The former police chief of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana was elected chairman in an election that almost didn't happen.

Kevin Sickey won 258 out of 297 votes, or 87 percent. He defeated vice council member William Worfel in a runoff on Saturday.

The runoff was called off on Friday by the tribe's election committee. But Sickey and other tribal members pushed for it to be held as scheduled. The polls opened several hours late and didn't close until 1:55am.

Sickey had been fired as police chief by former chairman Lovelin Poncho, who did not seek re-election, and Worfel in what has been called a secret action. The move came in the midst of the scandal over Jack Abramoff, who was hired by Poncho and Lovelin to lobby for the tribe.

Get the Story:
Ex-police chief is new head of Coushatta tribe (AP 6/5)
Coushatta runoff starts seven hours late; paper ballots used (The Lake Charles American press 6/5)
Coushattas vote to elect leader (AP 6/5)
Coushatta committee delays runoff election for tribe leader (The Lake Charles American Press 6/3)

Relevant Links:
Coushatta Tribe - http://www.coushattatribela.org

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