Creek Nation Citizen Files Petition To Impeach Chief

A Muscogee (Creek) Nation citizen began proceedings Friday to remove James Floyd as the tribe's principal chief on the heels of a controversial layoff of 123 health employees last week. 

The petition was filed October 7 with the Creek Nation Election Board, which administers the Nation's elections and any business related to the seating and removal of the tribe's elected officials. 

Creek citizen Brenda S. Golden, who filed the petition, cited treason, incompetence and abuse of power as the reasons for calling for Floyd's removal. 

Golden cited treason as one of the reasons for the call for his removal because she wrote that Floyd conspired with members of the tribe's National Council to "circumvent and violate" sections of the tribe's constitution by appointing commissioned officers for longer than allowed. 

Golden wrote that Floyd demonstrated incompetence because he "lacks the ability to provide adequate leadership and consistently refuses to listen to the will" of the Creek people. 

She also pointed out that the chief has acted in a manner contrary to the public trust by instituting a mass layoff of employees and Creek citizens with any prior notice or due process. 

10/3/2016 Related Story: Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lays Off Hundreds Of Health Employees

The petition needs 3,431 signatures, which is 20 percent of the total number of registered Creek voters in each district and must be filed within 60 days, according to the petition paperwork. 

The deadline to file the valid petition with all required signatures is December 6, 2016, at 5 p.m. 

If Golden collects the required number of signatures, the Election Board will validate the signatures and then the petition will go to the National Council. The council then will put the petition to a vote. 

Floyd has been in office a little over nine months. He was sworn in January 2, 2016, after winning the Muscogee (Creek) Nation's election November 7, 2015, over George Tiger.