Indian officials say they helped Brad Henry

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ An intensive voter participation effort among the American Indian population helped Democrat Brad Henry pull off an upset in the governor's race, tribal officials say. <br><br>In

Friday, November 8th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ An intensive voter participation effort among the American Indian population helped Democrat Brad Henry pull off an upset in the governor's race, tribal officials say.

In northeastern Oklahoma alone, the Cherokee Nation registered more than 9,000 new voters and sent voter guides to more than 40,000 households, said Chad Smith, principal chief.

``I know other tribes conducted similar campaigns aimed at getting out the vote and I think the Indian vote made a difference in close elections across the state,'' Smith said.

He said there are 390,000 Indians in Oklahoma.

The Cherokee voter guides outlined the positions of candidates on issues important to the tribe.

Officials said Henry won a large percentage of votes in counties that had a high Indian turnout.

``It is apparent that Brad Henry's message of respect and cooperation resonated with our Cherokee voters,'' said Melissa Gower, who helped organize the voter participation effort.

Gwen Nesbitt, communications director for the Henry campaign, said Henry ``made a point of going out and talking to tribal leaders across the state. That was part of the rural vote we got.''

After finishing second in the primary to Vince Orza, Henry was endorsed by fellow Sen. Kelly Haney, D-Seminole, a fullblood Seminole-Creek Indian, who counted on a large Indian vote in his unsuccessful gubernatorial bid.

Some of Haney's supporters went to work for Henry in the runoff and general election.

Smith said that in a race decided by fewer than 7,000 votes, ``It's obvious that the 9,000 new Cherokee voters had an impact on the governor's race.''

He said turnout was high in densely populated Cherokee areas in Adair, Sequoyah and Cherokee counties, with a strong vote in some precincts in nearby Rogers and Mayes counties.

The Cherokee voters guides did not endorse a candidate, but attempted to educate voters on candidates' positions on issues affecting Indians.

Only one statewide candidate, Republican attorney general candidate Denise Bode, did not take part in the Cherokee voter guide, Smith said. She lost by a 60-40 margin to incumbent Democrat Drew Edmondson.

Smith said the Cherokee Nation had ``sent a message that you can't ignore the Indian vote in Oklahoma.''