Keith Austin

Keith Austin
Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor for the 14th district
In office
August 14, 2015 – August 14, 2023
Preceded byLee Keener
Succeeded byKevin Easley Jr.
Personal details
CitizenshipCherokee Nation
United States
Political partyRepublican

Keith Austin is a Cherokee Nation and American politician who served on the Cherokee Nation tribal council representing the 14th District between 2015 and 2023.

Career

Austin owns All Points Delivery. In May 2013, he was appointed to the editorial board of the Cherokee Phoenix on which he served until November 2014.[1][2]

Cherokee Nation tribal council

In 2015, Austin ran against William "Bill" Pearson for the 14th District of the Cherokee Nation tribal council seat in a race to succeed Lee Keener. Keener had retired to run for deputy chief.[3] In June, Pearson won the initial general election by one vote, leading Austin to file for a recount.[4] After the recount, both candidates vote totals decreased, and Pearson maintained a 6-vote lead.[5] In July, Austin appealed to the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court arguing "14 votes were cast and shouldn't have been, three were rejected that should have been accepted and two ballots were lost."[6] The court ruled for a new election to be held alongside the already scheduled runoff elections that month.[7] Austin won the new election with 53% of the vote.[8] He was sworn on August 14, 2015.[9] In 2019, Austin ran for re-election and faced former tribal councilor Cara Cowan Watts in the general election; he defeated Watts with 56% of the vote.[10] He was sworn in for his second term August 14, 2019.[11] In 2022, Austin was a Republican primary candidate for the 2nd District of the Oklahoma Senate.[12] He is term limited in 2023.[13]

Personal life

Austin is a member of Verdigris United Methodist Church. He is married to his wife Pam and has two children.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Austin confirmed to Phoenix editorial board". Cherokee Phoenix. May 23, 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  2. ^ Boston, Stacie (November 17, 2014). "Burris approved as Supreme Court justice". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  3. ^ Murphy, Jami (March 6, 2015). "36 candidates file for general election". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  4. ^ Murphy, Jami (June 30, 2015). "DEVELOPING: Austin files for Dist. 14 recount". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  5. ^ Murphy, Jami (July 3, 2015). "BREAKING: Pearson wins Dist. 14 recount by 6 votes". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  6. ^ Murphy, Jami (July 7, 2015). "UPDATE: Austin files appeal challenging Dist. 14 race". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  7. ^ "New Dist. 14 election set for July 25". Cherokee Phoenix. July 11, 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  8. ^ Murphy, Jami (July 27, 2015). "UPDATE: Austin wins Dist. 14 Tribal Council seat". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  9. ^ Murphy, Jami (August 14, 2015). "Tribe's 2015-19 elected officials sworn into office". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  10. ^ Hunter, Chad (June 2, 2019). "UPDATED: Voters back Austin for another Dist. 14 term". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  11. ^ Hunter, Chad; Rowley, D. Sean (August 15, 2019). "Hoskin, Warner, 8 councilors sworn in at inauguration ceremony". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  12. ^ Brinkman, Bennett (May 31, 2022). "Senate District 2 GOP primary: Guns, abortion and 'godless commies'". NonDoc. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  13. ^ Hunter, Chad (February 9, 2023). "41 file for office in Cherokee Nation". Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved 27 May 2023.