(KAIR)--A new tribal council member is elected following Saturday's recall vote for Kickapoo Tribal Council member Gail Cheatham. 

According to tribal council members following the General Council meeting, the vote of removal was 84 to 40, which recalled Cheatham by the tribe's constitution. Council member Jessi Blacksmith calls it the first time in 89-years that such a recall move has made it to completion. 

Following Cheatham's recall, a special election was held where Priscilla Wakole was approved to fill Cheatham's position. 

A reason for the recall has not been stated publicly. 

A recall petition was submitted by tribal members on July 7, with the following verification of signatures moving the effort forward, leading to the Tribal Council meeting of July 16 when Saturday's General Council meeting was set.

Cheatham was removed from her position as tribal chairperson by a Tribal Court order on March 5, although the court allowed her to remain on the Tribal Council while appointing Vice Chairperson Nellie Cadue as interim chairperson.

Cheatham served on the Tribal Council since September 2023.