Meredith Frailey

Meredith Frailey is a Cherokee Nation politician who served on the Cherokee Nation tribal council from 2003 to 2013.

Meredith Frailey
Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor for the 6th district, Seat 2
In office August 14, 2007 – August 14, 2013
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Position disestablished
Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor for the 6th district
In office August 14, 2003 – August 14, 2007 Serving with Johnny Keener
Preceded by	Stephanie Wickliffe-Shepherd
Succeeded by	Multi-member district disestablished
Personal details
Education	Northeastern State University University of Tulsa College of Law

Education

Meredith Frailey graduated from Locust Grove High School and went on to earn her bachelor's degree from Northeastern State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Tulsa College of Law.^[1]

Tribal Council

Frailey was first elected to the Cherokee Nation tribal council in 2003 in the multi-member district 6 alongside incumbent Johnny Keener, and defeating incumbent Stephanie Wickliffe-Shepherd.^[2] In 2006, she was elected Speaker of the Tribal Council for a two-year term.^[3] After an amendment to election law split multi-member districts, Frailey ran unopposed for the new District 6, Seat 2 in 2007.^[4] In 2009, Frailey attended the inauguration of U.S. president Barack Obama.^[5] After another round of redistricting, Frailey lost her re-election campaign for the new 15th district to Janees Taylor in 2013.^[6] Principal Chief Chad Smith filed a lawsuit on her behalf requesting a runoff between her and Taylor, but the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court ruled against the lawsuit.^[7][8]

In 2021, Frailey ran in the 2021 Cherokee Nation tribal council elections for district 15.^[9] She lost the election to Danny Callison.^[10]

Deputy chief campaigns

In 2019, Frailey ran for deputy chief of the Cherokee Nation against Bryan Warner and Linda Sacks.^[11] Warner won the general election and avoided a runoff with 58% of the vote.^[12]

Frailey ran in the 2023 Cherokee Nation deputy chief election and lost to incumbent deputy chief Bryan Warner.^[13][14]

Electoral history

2023 Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Election^[14]

Candidate		Votes	%
Bryan Warner		10,300	61.54%
David Walkingstick		4,901	29.28%
Meredith Frailey		1,147	6.85%
Bill Pearson		389	2.32%
Total votes		16,737	100%

References

1. "Cherokee Council and Administration 2003–2007". Cherokee Phoenix. August 8, 2003. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
2. Chavez, Will (June 5, 2003). "Grayson, Chapman in runoff". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
3. Snell, Travis (July 14, 2006). "Council weighs by-blood citizenship measure". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
4. Chavez, Will (July 11, 2007). "Smith wins another term as chief". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
5. Murphy, Jami (December 31, 2008). "Cherokee officials to attend Obama inauguration". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
6. Murphy, Jami (June 25, 2013). "Tribal Council election results certified". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
7. Murphy, Jami (July 3, 2013). "Frailey wants Dist. 15 election results invalidated". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
8. Murphy, Jami (July 12, 2013). "CN Supreme Court issues decision on Dist. 15 election". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
9. Hunter, Chad (February 5, 2021). "Crowded field in Tribal Council races as filing period ends". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
10. Bark, Lindsey (June 6, 2021). "Callison wins Dist. 15 Tribal Council seat". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
11. Hunter, Chad (February 8, 2019). "36 file for Cherokee Nation government seats". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
12. Hunter, Chad (June 2, 2019). "UPDATED: Warner prevails in deputy chief race". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
13. Hunter, Chad (February 9, 2023). "41 file for office in Cherokee Nation". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
14. Rowley, D. Sean (June 4, 2023). "Warner re-elected as CN deputy chief". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 4 June 2023.