Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council Vice Chair Jessie “Little Doe” Baird and President Cedric Cromwell.
MASHPEE – The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council election resulted in four incumbents being reelected and two newcomers unseating incumbents.
The top six vote-getters, including two newcomers, were announced after the Mashpee Wampanoag tribal council election Sunday.
The council members were elected to a four-year term on the council.
The votes were tallied and announced at the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Community & Government Center in front of a gymnasium full of voters and 10 of the 11 candidates vying for the six open seats.
Out of a total of 553 ballots cast, the winners were incumbent Winnie Johnson-Graham with 280 votes; Robert Dias with 266 votes; Winona Pocknett with 266 votes; incumbent Yvonne Avant with 262 votes; incumbent Carlton Hendricks Jr. with 257 votes and incumbent Cheryl Frye-Cromwell with 248 votes.
Incumbents Laura Miranda with 245 votes and Patricia “Trish” Keliinui with 239 votes, did not receive enough votes to be reelected to the council.
Also not receiving enough votes were Aaron Tobey Jr. with 222 votes; Robyn Tobey Stamps with 190 votes; and Danielle Hill with 161 votes.
Tribal Council Chairman Cedric Cromwell said after the election results were announced, “I want to first thank all tribal citizens who voted in this important election. I also want to extend my congratulations to the winners. I look forward to working with each of them as we embark on a critical year for the future of our tribe. And I would be remiss if I didn’t also thank the candidates who ran but were not elected. I thank them for sharing their views and for their willingness to step up and make their voices heard.”
