By Pat Hammert/Staff Writer

The race for tribal governor of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma is heating up as a runoff election is set between business committeeman Darrell Flyingman and former tribal comptroller Ramona Tall Bear.

Flyingman of Clinton has served on the C&A business committee for the past two years, elected from Cheyenne District 3 following his military retirement. Tall Bear of El Reno, currently employed as finance director of the Delaware Nation in Anadarko, was C&A comptroller in 1991 and more recently gaming programs accountant.

Just over 20 percent of registered voters mailed in completed ballots by Monday’s election deadline. No clear winners emerged to fill the governor and lieutenant governor seats, an election that was preceded by the adoption of a new constitution for the tribes.

The Flyingman and Harvey Monetatchi ticket earned 471 votes to 343 for Tall Bear and her running mate, Teresa Murray.

The ticket of Alden A. “Al” Whiteman for governor and Janice Prairie Chief Boswell for lieutenant governor came in third with 242 votes.

“I am not disappointed that there is a runoff,” said Tall Bear. “I feel so good about this new constitution and the election.” Tall Bear admitted as the underdog she and her running mate have a lot of work to do to get their message across to voters.

Both runoff candidates have campaigned on economic development for the tribes. Flyingman said he will focus on establishing additional casinos and the return of Fort Reno lands to the tribes.

Tall Bear wants financial independence from federal funds and casino gaming revenue and proposes enterprises such as wind farms, expanding the buffalo operations and farming corn for ethanol production.

A candidates forum will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Pioneer Center, 1000 Gartrel in Weatherford.

Flyingman could not be reached for his reaction to the election by press time.

Runoff ballots will be mailed to registered tribal members within the next two weeks. The deadline to return the ballots will be posted later, a C&A election board spokesman said.

In an April 4 election, the C&A approved a new constitution, replacing one that gives government functions to an elected business committee. The new document initiates a four-branch government consisting of an elected eight-member legislature (replacing the business committee), an executive (a governor and lieutenant governor), the already established tribal court and tribal council.

Murray is the C&A enrollment officer. Monetatchi is former director of health education for the tribes, former interim business manager and job training assistant.