Former chairman of Chitimacha Tribe told he can't run again

Thursday, June 9, 2011  

The former chairman of the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana is trying to get back on the ballot for Saturday's election.

Lonnie Martin served as chairman from 2007 to 2009 and previously served on the council. But the tribe's election board said he was no longer a resident of the reservation so it removed him from the ballot.

Martin took the election board to tribal court but lost the case. He plans to appeal even as the election date quickly approaches.

"I served the tribe for nine and a half years prior to this. So I guess it's hard to say that I'm not a resident of the Chitimacha tribe," Martin told KLFY-TV.

Get the Story:
Tribal Vote Controversy (KLFY-TV 6/9)