Sampson Files for District 7 Seat

Norman “Woody” Sampson filed on Monday for the District 7 seat on the Lumbee Tribal Council. Robert Chavis currently holds the District 7 seat which includes South Pembroke and Union communities.

Chavis is inelgibile to seek re-election because the Lumbee Constitution prevents council members from serving more than two consecutive terms. Council members’ terms are for three years.

The filing period ends September 18. The Tribal Elections will be held on November 17.

There are seven council seats up for election, along with the chairman’s seat.

Aside from District 7, the other seats up for election are Districts 1, 4, 5, 9 and 10.

The filing fee for the chairman seat is $500. The filling fee for the council seat is $250.

To be eligible to be a candidate for chairman, candidates must be at least 35 years of age, maintained their residency in the tribal territory for the past year, and have no felony conviction.

To be eligible to serve on the Tribal Council, a person must be an enrolled tribal member of at least 21 years of age; maintained his or her principal residence in the district for no less than one year; and have no felony conviction.

The Tribal Election office is located at 78-D, Three Hunt’s Drive in the Comtech Business Park off N.C. 711 in Pembroke. Office hours are from 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday. The phone number is (910) 521-8965.