Richard Sneed

Trina Sneed

​

(divorced)​

• Colene Sneed

Richard Sneed
Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
In office May 26, 2017 –October 2, 2023
Parent(s)	Richard and Patricia Sneed
Education	Universal Technical Institute Southwestern Community College
Occupation	Politician Teacher
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Marine Corps

Richard G. Sneed (born December 20, 1967) is a Cherokee politician who served as the 28th Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. ^[1] Sneed succeeded former Principal Chief Patrick Lambert following Lambert's impeachment, only the second such impeachment since the 19th century. ^[2]

Personal life

Richard Sneed is a graduate of Cherokee High School in Cherokee, North Carolina. His family is from the Wolfetown Community of the Qualla Boundary. Sneed is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, and a graduate of Universal Technical Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, and Southwestern Community College in Sylva, North Carolina. He holds a North Carolina teaching license in industrial arts.

Sneed taught vocational classes at Cherokee High School where he was recognized as National Classroom Teacher of the Year by the National Indian Education Association. Sneed has also served as the senior pastor of the Christ Fellowship Church of Cherokee. Sneed and his ex-wife Trina resided in the Birdtown Community of the Qualla Boundary where they raised their five children. ^{[3] [4]}

Political career

Sneed began his services as an elected tribal leader for the tribe after winning election as principal vice-chief in September 2015 and assumed office in October 2015. ^[5] Formerly, Patrick Lambert was serving as the 27th Principal Chief but Sneed began service as principal chief on in May 2017 after his predecessor was impeached and removed by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council. ^[6] In September 2017, Yellowhill Tribal Council member Alan B. Ensley assumed the principal vice-chief title left vacant after Sneed became Principal Chief. ^[7] Speaking to WLOS in 2017, Sneed most recently called for community "healing" following Lambert's removal. ^[8] Sneed was re-elected as Principal Chief in 2019 for a full-term, but lost reelection in 2023 to former Chief Michell Hicks. ^[9]

In April 2023, a law to change the public record status of police bodycam footage to be in line with North Carolina state law was approved unanimously by the Tribal Council and signed by Sneed. Prior to the change, tribal law had given greater access to such recordings. ^[10]

Electoral history

2015 EBCI Vice Chief primary election ^[11]

Candidate		Votes	%
Richard (Richie) Sneed		990	33.88%
Larry Blythe (Incumbent)		847	28.99%
Dan McCoy		652	22.31%
James (Bud) Smith		433	14.82%

2015 EBCI Vice Chief general election

Candidate		Votes	%
Richard (Richie) Sneed		2,191	59.06%
Larry Blythe (Incumbent)		1,516	40.94%

2019 EBCI Principal Chief primary election ^[12]

Candidate		Votes	%
Teresa McCoy		1,132	42.21%
Richard Sneed (Incumbent)		1,117	41.65%
Carroll (Peanut) Crowe		433	16.14%

2019 EBCI Principal Chief general election ^[13]

Candidate		Votes	%
Richard Sneed (Incumbent)		2,131	55.11%
Teresa McCoy		1,736	44.89%

2023 EBCI Principal Chief primary election ^[14]

Candidate		Votes	%
Michell Hicks		1,075	41.73%
Richard Sneed (Incumbent)		548	21.27%
Robert Saunooke		441	17.11
Gary Ledford		254	9.86
Gene Crowe Jr.		141	5.47
Lori Taylor		117	4.54

2023 EBCI Principal Chief general election ^[9]

Candidate		Votes	%
Michell Hicks		2,254	65.03%
Richard Sneed (Incumbent)		1,212	34.97%

References

1. "Government - Eastern Band of Cherokee". Eastern Band of Cherokee. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
2. "Tribal Council Removes Cherokee Chief From Office". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
3. "Vice Chief visits SCC, agrees to serve as mentor in new program". Cherokee One Feather. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
4. "Richard Sneed, Principal Chief, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Biography" (PDF). Congress.gov . Retrieved August 9, 2021.
5. "Lambert, Sneed take office". The Cherokee One Feather. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
6. "Tribal Council votes to impeach Cherokee chief". Citizen Times. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
7. Scott McKie (September 18, 2017). "Ensley chosen as Vice Chief". Cherokee One Feather. Retrieved 2017-09-29.
8. Hodge, Rex. "New Cherokee chief calls for healing after impeachment of Patrick Lambert". WLOS. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
9. Kays, Holly (September 8, 2023). "Hicks wins fourth term as Cherokee chief". Smoky Mountain Times. Bryson City, NC. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
10. Burgess, Joel. "EBCI Chief signs law making Cherokee Indian Police bodycam videos not open to public". The Asheville Citizen Times. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
11. "Unofficial 2015 EBCI Primary Election Results". Cherokee One Feather. June 5, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
12. Kays, Holly (June 7, 2019). "Primary Election results return to Cherokee". Smoky Mountain Times. Bryson City, NC. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
13. "Unofficial 2019 EBCI General Election Results". Cherokee One Feather. September 6, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
14. "Unofficial results of the 2023 EBCI Primary Election". Cherokee One Feather. June 1, 2023. Retrieved September 10, 2023.

Preceded by Patrick Lambert	Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians 2017-2023	Succeeded by Michell Hicks