Crow Tribe elects new President.

     Frank White Clay new Tribal President

Monday, November 9, 2020 the Crow electorate went to the polls and elected a new Tribal chairman and slate of other newcomers to the Executive Branch, who have previously served in the Crow Legislature. Under the Crow Tribal constitution there are four top officials who run as a group: Chairman, Vice-chairman, Secretary and vice-secretary.

Frank White Clay decisively defeated incumbent A.J. Not Afraid by a vote of 1,978 to 143

Lawrence DeCrane is vice-chair, defeating Paul J. Hill, 1,798 to 1,642. In the Secretary race, Levi Black Eagle beat Shawn Backbone, 1,991 to 1,425. Channis D. Whiteman defeated Yvonne Light Medicine Tail, Jr., and 1,981 to 1,396.

White Clay is currently a Senator in the Crow Tribal Legislature, working himself to position of Speaker of the House along with the new Vice-Chair, Lawrence DeCrane. Black Eagle is also a Legislature and Black Eagle and educator working for Tribal Schools. It was not possible to contact Whiteman regarding his livelihood.

These officials and Legislature of 18 members serve four-year terms and will be sworn into office the first part of December to assume their duties.

Crow Tribal member Henry “Hank” Realbird explained that it is now extremely hard for incumbents to gain re-election to the Executive Branch because of the extremely large budget deficit, estimated at 80 million which the Executive Branch inherits.  “Before Not Afraid, the Tribe employed more than a thousand people,” he said, “but due to the budget problems, under Not Afraid’s administration it went down to about 120,  People have decided upon fresh faces and these are all good family men.  I wish them well, but they face one heck of a problem.”

(Clara Caufield can be reached at acheyennevoice@gmail.com)

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