Historic First: Caddo Inaugural Candidate Forum Held Ahead of July 12 Election

Caddo Nation Chairman Q & A Session with Incumbent Chairman Bobby Gonzalez and Candidate Michael Meeks

Oklahoma City, OK - In a groundbreaking move for the Caddo Nation, the first-ever candidate forum was held on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at St. Paul's Cathedral in Oklahoma City, marking a significant step forward in tribal democratic engagement and transparency.

The historic event, hosted by the Alice Cussen Family as an independent sponsored forum, brought together incumbents and challengers competing for key tribal leadership positions in the upcoming Saturday, July 12, 2025 election. The forum provided Oklahoma City area Caddo registered voters—numbering several hundred—with an unprecedented opportunity to hear directly from candidates and make informed decisions at the ballot box.

A New Chapter in Caddo Democracy

"This represents our tribe moving forward with the times," organizers noted, emphasizing the importance of voter engagement and candidate transparency in modern tribal governance. The standardized format ensured fair representation, with separate panel sessions for each contested office and strict time adherence managed by moderators and timekeepers.

Three Competitive Races Featured

The evening featured three distinct question-and-answer sessions covering the contested positions:

Chairman Race

The tribal leadership race included incumbent Bobby Gonzalez and challenger Michael Meeks, who participated in a comprehensive Q&A session. A third candidate, Eric Travis Guy, elected not to participate in the forum proceedings.

Treasurer Position

Current Treasurer and incumbent Verna Castillo participated in the forum alongside challenger Anthony Cotter. While both candidates answered questions about their visions for managing tribal finances and fiscal responsibility, Incumbent Castillo requested that her responses not be included in the video recordings shared publicly.

Oklahoma City Area Representative

Incumbent Jennifer Wilson and challenger Brittany Habbart addressed concerns specific to the substantial Oklahoma City Caddo community and their representation needs.

Additional Ballot Information

Voters should note that the Binger District Representative position will not appear on the ballot, as no candidates submitted their names for consideration. Additionally, Arnita Pewewardy is the sole candidate who submitted for the Hearing Board position.

Encouraging Democratic Participation

The forum's format allowed registered Caddo Nation voters to submit questions in advance, with a deadline of July 2, 2025, ensuring community concerns were directly addressed. Each panel session lasted 35-45 minutes, providing substantial time for meaningful dialogue between candidates and constituents.

WATCH THE FULL FORUM

Chairman Candidates Q&A Session

Treasurer Candidates Q&A Session Note: This video features challenger Anthony Cotter's responses only, as incumbent Verna Castillo requested her participation not be included in public recordings.

OKC Area Representative Candidates Q&A Session

Election Day Information

When: Saturday, July 12, 2025 Who Can Vote: Registered Caddo Nation voters More

Information: Visit https://www.mycaddonation.com for election information or https://www.yohasinainews.com to view candidate bios and any messaging provided.

This inaugural candidate forum reflects the Caddo Nation's democratic evolution, demonstrating the tribe's commitment to transparency, voter education, and civic engagement during an especially high stakes election for the tribe given the recent upward mobility in terms of major achievements by Leadership and unprecedented growth in economic development. As the Caddo Nation continues to grow and adapt, events like these mark milestones for the Caddo Nation.

This forum was an independent event hosted by the Alice Cussen Family.