Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Chief Phyliss J. Anderson talks to well-wishers Thursday during her Thursday inauguration at the Neshoba County Coliseum. Anderson was re-elected to serve a second term.

    At her inaugural speech earlier this week, re-elected Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Chief Phyliss J. Anderson vowed to reform the tribe’s election process.

    This year, and in 2011, members of the MBCI’s 17-member Tribal Council voted to overturn run-off election results in which Anderson was pitted against former Chief Beasley Denson. In both cases, the tribal council ordered another run-off with Anderson emerging the victor.

    In the second runoff earlier this year, Anderson beat Denson by a 52-48 percent margin and her re-election was finally upheld.

     “If we neglect to address real and serious problems that jeopardize our freedoms as Choctaw people, then we fail,” Anderson said. “We cannot and we will not let a minority group thwart the will of the majority. We must have a movement toward real reform when it comes to our elections. We must change the wrongs of our system, so that we can foster fair elections.”

    Anderson is the fourth elected tribal chief for the MBCI since 1945 when the federal government allowed the Choctaw Nation to re-establish its government. She is the tribe’s second chief to be re-elected. The late chief, Phillip Martin, served four terms. Denson won the 2007 election to succeed Martin but Anderson, who was elected to the Tribal Council in 2003, beat Denson to become the first woman chief.

    Tribal Council member Richard Issac said Anderson’s focus on election reform will be welcomed by the Tribe.

    “That’s definitely going to a big thing for us,” Issac said. “The way it is now, we just had too many problems with our last elections. It’s something we need to clear up and it needs to be determined by her and the Tribal Council. Sometimes the Tribal Council can be biased and we need to change that.”

    During her second inaugural address, Anderson spoke of her past accomplishments and future goals.

    “So far in our journey we have past some amazing milestones, including the building of the new Choctaw Health Center,” Anderson said. “We had the re-authorization of the order Against Violence Toward Women Act, the opening of several new and improved facilities, like the Bogue Chitto store, Big Creek General Store and a cultural center. We also reactivated and renovated the Golden Moon Casino and other resort properties. But that journey is only the beginning. Better things are still in store.”

    Anderson called for tribal unity to heal divisions caused by bitterly contested election campaigns.

    “As a unified people, we will continue to improve our educational system and employee benefits,” Anderson said. “We will work with federal officials on legislation that provide greater justice for our people. We will implement our housing policy plan and create job opportunities to improve the quality of life on the reservation. These are just a few goals. But we will march together, hand in hand, toward our shared destiny.”

    David Vowell, president of the Community Development Partnership for Philadelphia and Neshoba County, said Anderson will play a vital role in promoting area growth.

    As chief, Anderson also serves as chairman of the Choctaw Resort Development Enterprise Board, which oversees the Silver Star and Golden Moon Casinos and Pearl River Resort.

    “The relationship Chief Anderson has with the city of Philadelphia and the county is excellent because she always has an open door to go and visit with her and talk about problems that can help the Choctaw people and our community,” Vowell said. “It’s a natural because their business is tourism and it brings three million tourists to Neshoba County each year. Those people are traveling through Meridian, through Philadelphia and it helps our sales tax base tremendously. We’re excited she’s back for a second term.”

    One goal Vowell said he would like Anderson’s help with is a proposed Highway 19 bypass to create a faster link between Meridian, Philadelphia and the Pearl River Resort.

    “Number one, number one and number one is the bypass for Highway 19,” Vowell said. “I talked with her about it and we are going to go to work together and do whatever we can. We need to let the November election get over, but then we are going to get after it.”