Guy Barker (politician)

Guy Barker is a Quapaw-American politician and attorney who served one term as the secretary-treasurer of the Quapaw Nation between 2020 and 2022. During the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Oklahoma, Barker ran for retiring Congressman Markwayne Mullin's seat in Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district, placing 5th in the 14 candidate Republican primary.

Guy Barker
Secretary-Treasurer of Quapaw Nation
In office
2020–2022
Preceded byTamara Smiley-Reeves
Succeeded byKathryn "Wena" Supernaw
Personal details
BornOklahoma, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Quapaw Nation
Political partyRepublican
RelativesJoseph Tali Byrd (cousin)
EducationOklahoma State University–Stillwater (BS)
Oklahoma City University (JD)

Early life

Barker is an eighth-generation Oklahoman.[1] He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biosystems and mechanical engineering from Oklahoma State University–Stillwater and a Juris Doctor from the Oklahoma City University School of Law.[2]

Career

2020 election and Secretary-Treasurer of Quapaw Nation

Prior to running for office, Barker worked as a petroleum engineer and attorney.[3] Barker ran for Quapaw Nation secretary-treasurer in 2020 and was elected to his first term, defeating incumbent Tamara Smiley-Reeves.[4] He campaigned for election with his cousin, Joseph Tali Byrd, who was elected chairman of the tribe in the same election.[5] Barker came into office after a forensic audit of the Tribe resulted in the indictment of former Quapaw Nation Chairman John Berrey and former Quapaw Nation Secretary-Treasurer Tamara Smiley Reeves for mishandling $7 million.[6]

While in office Barker pursued a settlement of the Quapaw Nation's claim for damages against the United States for damage done to Tar Creek (referred to as the "Bear Settlement" by the Quapaw Nation).[7] He also oversaw the increase in the tribe's Saracen Casino Resort credit rating by Moody’s Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings and oversaw the reinvestment in the tribes criminal justice system after the reestablishment of the Quapaw reservation in a follow-up case to the McGirt v. Oklahoma decision.[8][9] He was named "Tribal Executive of the Year" in 2021.[5]

2022 congressional campaign
Main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Oklahoma

Barker ran for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district in 2022 after incumbent Markwayne Mullin announced his retirement to run for the open U.S. Senate seat.[2] He placed fifth and failed to qualify for the runoff.[10]

2022 Quapaw elections

Barker ran for reelection in the 2022 Quapaw Nation elections, facing challenger Kathryn "Wena" Supernaw.[5] Supernaw defeated Barker in the July election.[11]

Electoral history
Quapaw Secretary-Treasurer elections 2020[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Guy Barker 550 63.29%
Independent Tamara Smiley Reeves 319 36.71%
Total votes 869 100.0
Republican primary results for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district in 2022[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Avery Frix 11,336 14.7
Republican Josh Brecheen 10,579 13.8
Republican Johnny Teehee 9,963 13.0
Republican John Bennett 8,713 11.3
Republican Guy Barker 8,444 11.0
Republican Marty Quinn 5,612 7.3
Republican Wes Nofire 4,859 6.3
Republican David Derby 4,204 5.5
Republican Chris Schiller 4,108 5.3
Republican Dustin Roberts 3,746 4.9
Republican Pamela Gordon 2,344 3.0
Republican Rhonda Hopkins 1,281 1.7
Republican Clint Johnson 1,128 1.5
Republican Erick Wyatt 615 0.8
Total votes 76,932 100.0
Quapaw Secretary-Treasurer elections 2022[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Wena (Kathryn) Supernaw 323 52.18%
Independent Guy Barker 296 47.82%
Total votes 618 100.0

References
  1. Clinton, Amanda (6 April 2022). "Guy Barker announces candidacy for United States Congress". The Claremore Daily Progress. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  2. Krehbiel, Randy (5 April 2022). "Quapaw tribal official Guy Barker joins CD2 race". Tulsa World. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  3. Patterson, Matt (21 June 2022). "Republican primary voters fed red meat in CD 2 debate". NonDoc. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  4. Strader, Stacie; Warner, Chris (19 April 2021). "Ex-Quapaw tribal leaders indicted for embezzlement". KOAM. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  5. "Three Quapaw Nation leaders challenged in election". NonDoc. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  6. Herrera, Allison (22 July 2022). "Quapaw Nation holds elections for Chairman and Secretary-Treasurer". KOSU. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  7. Spears, Nancy Marie (7 October 2021). "Quapaw Tribe awaits action on bill to settle environmental damages". Norman Transcript. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  8. "Quapaw Nation's Saracen Casino Resort receives credit rating upgrades from both Moody's and S&P Global". GlobeNewswire. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  9. Herrera, Allison (25 July 2022). "Byrd re-elected as chairman of Quapaw Nation; Barker unseated by challenger Supernaw". KOSU. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  10. "June 28 2022". okelections.us. Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  11. Hancock, Andrea (25 July 2022). "Byrd reelected, but two ousted from Quapaw Nation Business Committee". NonDoc. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  12. "2020 Elections Official Results". quapawtribe.com. Quapaw Nation. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  13. "2022 Election Official Results". quapawtribe.com. Quapaw Nation. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
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