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Richard Sneed

Richard Sneed
Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
In office
May 26, 2017 – October 2, 2023
Preceded byPatrick Lambert
Succeeded byMichell Hicks
Personal details
Born (1967-12-20) December 20, 1967 (age 56)
NationalityEastern Band Cherokee, American
Spouses
Trina Sneed
​
(divorced)​
  • Colene Sneed
Parent(s)Richard and Patricia Sneed
Education
Occupation
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceUnited States Marine Corps

Richard G. Sneed (born December 20, 1967) is a Cherokee politician who served as the 28th Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.[1] Sneed succeeded former Principal Chief Patrick Lambert following Lambert's impeachment, only the second such impeachment since the 19th century.[2]

Personal life

Richard Sneed is a graduate of Cherokee High School in Cherokee, North Carolina. His family is from the Wolfetown Community of the Qualla Boundary. Sneed is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, and a graduate of Universal Technical Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, and Southwestern Community College in Sylva, North Carolina. He holds a North Carolina teaching license in industrial arts.

Sneed taught vocational classes at Cherokee High School where he was recognized as National Classroom Teacher of the Year by the National Indian Education Association. Sneed has also served as the senior pastor of the Christ Fellowship Church of Cherokee. Sneed and his ex-wife Trina resided in the Birdtown Community of the Qualla Boundary where they raised their five children.[3][4]

Political career

Sneed began his services as an elected tribal leader for the tribe after winning election as principal vice-chief in September 2015 and assumed office in October 2015.[5] Formerly, Patrick Lambert was serving as the 27th Principal Chief but Sneed began service as principal chief on in May 2017 after his predecessor was impeached and removed by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council.[6] In September 2017, Yellowhill Tribal Council member Alan B. Ensley assumed the principal vice-chief title left vacant after Sneed became Principal Chief.[7] Speaking to WLOS in 2017, Sneed most recently called for community "healing" following Lambert's removal.[8] Sneed was re-elected as Principal Chief in 2019 for a full-term, but lost reelection in 2023 to former Chief Michell Hicks.[9]

Electoral history

2015 EBCI Vice Chief primary election[10]
Candidate Votes %
Richard (Richie) Sneed 990 33.88%
Larry Blythe (Incumbent) 847 28.99%
Dan McCoy 652 22.31%
James (Bud) Smith 433 14.82%
2015 EBCI Vice Chief general election
Candidate Votes %
Richard (Richie) Sneed 2,191 59.06%
Larry Blythe (Incumbent) 1,516 40.94%
2019 EBCI Principal Chief primary election[11]
Candidate Votes %
Teresa McCoy 1,132 42.21%
Richard Sneed (Incumbent) 1,117 41.65%
Carroll (Peanut) Crowe 433 16.14%
2019 EBCI Principal Chief general election[12]
Candidate Votes %
Richard Sneed (Incumbent) 2,131 55.11%
Teresa McCoy 1,736 44.89%
2023 EBCI Principal Chief primary election[13]
Candidate Votes %
Michell Hicks 1,075 41.73%
Richard Sneed (Incumbent) 548 21.27%
Robert Saunooke 441 17.11
Gary Ledford 254 9.86
Gene Crowe Jr. 141 5.47
Lori Taylor 117 4.54
2023 EBCI Principal Chief general election[9]
Candidate Votes %
Michell Hicks 2,254 65.03%
Richard Sneed (Incumbent) 1,212 34.97%

References

  1. ^ "Government - Eastern Band of Cherokee". Eastern Band of Cherokee. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  2. ^ "Tribal Council Removes Cherokee Chief From Office". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  3. ^ "Vice Chief visits SCC, agrees to serve as mentor in new program". Cherokee One Feather. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  4. ^ "Richard Sneed, Principal Chief, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Biography" (PDF). Congress.gov. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  5. ^ "Lambert, Sneed take office". The Cherokee One Feather. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  6. ^ "Tribal Council votes to impeach Cherokee chief". Citizen Times. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  7. ^ Scott McKie (September 18, 2017). "Ensley chosen as Vice Chief". Cherokee One Feather. Retrieved 2017-09-29.
  8. ^ Hodge, Rex. "New Cherokee chief calls for healing after impeachment of Patrick Lambert". WLOS. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  9. ^ a b Kays, Holly (September 8, 2023). "Hicks wins fourth term as Cherokee chief". Smoky Mountain Times. Bryson City, NC. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  10. ^ "Unofficial 2015 EBCI Primary Election Results". Cherokee One Feather. June 5, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  11. ^ Kays, Holly (June 7, 2019). "Primary Election results return to Cherokee". Smoky Mountain Times. Bryson City, NC. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  12. ^ "Unofficial 2019 EBCI General Election Results". Cherokee One Feather. September 6, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  13. ^ "Unofficial results of the 2023 EBCI Primary Election". Cherokee One Feather. June 1, 2023. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
Preceded by Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
2017-2023 		Succeeded by
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