IRVING – J.C. Seneca, chairman of the One Nation Party and candidate for president of the Seneca Nation of Indians, and Jack Sherlock Jr., a candidate for Allegany Territory marshal, have filed charges with the Seneca Nation of Indians Board of Electors regarding the underhanded, illegal tactics allegedly employed by Seneca Party Chairman Don John earlier this week.

A press conference and community protest was held Friday morning outside the William Seneca Administration Building, which was named in honor of J.C.’s father, a former president of the Seneca Nation.

The Seneca Nation of Indians will hold its general election on Tuesday, Nov. 1 in the Cattaraugus and Allegany Territories. The incumbent Seneca Party is facing stiff competition from the One Nation Party, which was created in 2014 because of a split in the Seneca Party two years earlier.

The One Nation Party presented to the Board of Electors with a signed affidavit from Sherlock stating Don John threatened, coerced and intimidated him this past Monday evening. Sherlock was allegedly told by the Seneca Party chairman that he would never be employed by the Seneca Nation if he did not go along with John’s scheme to force Sherlock to withdraw from the One Nation ticket. They forced him to withdraw his candidacy at 11:55 p.m., five minutes before the deadline for candidates to be listed on a party’s ticket.

In addition, the One Nation Party delivered a letter Thursday to current Seneca Nation President Maurice A. John, Clerk Pauline John, Treasurer Todd Gates and members of the Council of the Seneca Nation of Indians requesting them to condemn the actions of Don John, due to this attempt to undermine the electoral process of the Seneca Nation of Indians.

The Seneca Nation Board of Electors met Friday to discuss the matter. According to Section 2.4 of The Constitution of the Seneca Nation of Indians, the Board of Electors must review and publicly render a decision on all challenges, along with the justification for its decision within two business days of receipt of the charges.

“In our letter to the current President of the Seneca Nation and his administration, we called upon them to condemn the actions of Don John as chairman of the Seneca Party, due to this attempt to undermine the electoral process of the Seneca Nation of Indians. We have requested that they send a letter of support in time for the Board of Electors meeting to restore Jack Sherlock’s name to the ballot for the One Nation Party, based upon the contemptible conduct by Don John as described in Mr. Sherlock’s affidavit,” J.C. Seneca explained.

“We truly want a spirited and fair election for all of our people and we sincerely hope the current administration will reject the dirty tricks employed by Don John,” Seneca continued. “Time is of the essence for them to call for Jack Sherlock to be restored on our ballot. The Seneca people must truly know their elections are fair. By upholding the General Election Law of our Constitution, it could go a long way towards restoring the trust of our people.”

The One Nation Party ticket includes: J.C. Seneca, President, Cattaraugus Territory; Darlene Miller, Treasurer, Allegany Territory; Geraldine “Bird” Huff, Clerk. The Cattaraugus Councilor candidates are: Brandon Boushie, Jocelyn Jones, Richard E. Nephew, and Nikki Seneca. The Allegany Councilor candidates are: Melinda Clark, Arnie Cooper, Steve Maybee, and Flip White.