During this episode, we’re meeting this year’s candidates for office. This year’s ballot has three races – District 10, 11 and 13, all of which represent the entire state of Oklahoma. District 10 candidates are incumbent David Barrett and challenger Charles Scott. District 11 candidates are incumbent Andrew Walters and challenger Jay Laughlin. District 13 legislator Bobbi Bowden is running unopposed for another term. Hownikan Podcast sat down with the candidates for Districts 10 and 11.
David Barrett
District 10 incumbent and Bourassa family descendant David Barrett is a self-described “Oklahoma boy,” raised in Tecumseh and alumnus of the University of Oklahoma. He returned to the state after serving in the U.S. Navy and is now a member of the CPN Veteran Color Guard. He has a bachelor’s in accounting from OU and an MBA from Oklahoma City University, and spent a long career in accounting and finance before retiring. He was elected to office in June 2008.
Charles Scott
Peltier and Vieux family descendant Charles Scott lives in Tecumseh, Oklahoma, and is a veteran of both the Army and the Navy. Throughout his life, he has been a maintenance mechanic, paramedic, union organizer and more. He has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and religious studies from St. Gregory’s University in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and is a graduate of the first Mdamen leadership program class held by CPN. He describes himself as having a “warrior spirit.”
Andrew Walters
In 2019, Bourbonnais family descendant and District 11 representative Andrew Walters retired from a long career in law enforcement as the Chief of Police of the Oak Ridge North Police Department, a suburb of Houston, Texas. Walters has expertise in psychology, criminal justice, disaster response, firearms training and more. He and his wife, Cora, enjoy traveling around the world and now reside in Shawnee. He has been serving as a CPN legislator since February 2021.
Jay Laughlin
Originally born in Duncan, Oklahoma, Navarre family descendant Jay Laughlin moved when he was young and went to Wanette High School in Pottawatomie County. He lived not far from his family’s Potawatomi allotment. He attended school at Oklahoma City Community College, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Central Oklahoma, and Oklahoma Christian University. He has a bachelor’s degree in engineering and an MBA with an emphasis in finance.
Absentee ballot requests must be postmarked no later than June 4, 2023. Find one online at cpn.news/ballotrequest. In-person voting takes place Saturday, June 24 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the Tribe’s annual Family Reunion Festival. Election results are announced during General Council, which begins at 3 p.m. the same day.
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