Hicks to be sworn today

Louis Hicks, Second Chief, Muscogee (Creek) Nation

OKMULGEE, Okla. – Pending certification of the election results by the MCN Election Board Friday, Jan. 16 at 5 p.m., Louis Hicks will be sworn in as the second chief of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation at a ceremony Jan. 17 at 5 p.m. at the MCN Mound Auditorium.

MCN Supreme Court Justice Leah Harjo-Ware will swear in Hicks, who was elected as the new second chief in a special election Jan. 10.

Hicks defeated former principal chief A.D. Ellis, according to unofficial results released by the MCN Election Board. Hicks won by a majority vote at all precincts, including absentee ballots.

Hicks took 65 percent of the vote with 2,010 votes, while Ellis garnered 1,070 votes. Hicks won every voting district, as well as the absentee ballots. The results will not be made official until 5 p.m. on Jan. 16.

Louis Hicks speaks at a candidate forum on Dec. 6

Hicks, a Vietnam Veteran, previously worked for MCN from 2007 to December 2011 as the Director of the Human Development Department, and most recently was employed at the MCN Reintegration department prior to running for the second chief position.

Hicks’ tribal town is Atvse (inactive)/Arbeka (active), is of the Bird Clan and he is a member of the Silver Springs Indian Baptist Church. He is married to Gloria Hicks, and they have been married for 40 years and have seven children and 16 grandchildren.

He will serve as the second chief through the end of the year. Hicks is fulfilling the remainder of the term vacated by the previous second chief.