By AP
Tahlequah, OK – Acting principal chief of Okla. tribe sworn into office
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) The deputy principal chief has been sworn in as the acting principal chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.
S. Joe Crittenden took the oath of office Sunday at a ceremony in Tahlequah. Crittenden will be acting chief until the winner of next month's special election is chosen.
Crittenden promised a "seamless' transition until then, saying he would work to ensure services to Cherokee members continue uninterrupted.
Meredith Frailey is speaker for the Tribal Council, but was sworn in as deputy principal chief.
The tribe's Supreme Court threw out June 25 election results between incumbent Chad Smith and longtime council member Bill John Baker because the five-justice panel couldn't determine with a mathematical certainty who won.
A new election is set for Sept. 24.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.