# Richard Sneed

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. Sneed succeeded former Principal Chief Patrick Lambert following Lambert's impeachment, only the second such impeachment since the 19th century.

## 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.

## 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. 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. In September 2017, Yellowhill Tribal Council member Alan B. Ensley assumed the principal vice-chief title left vacant after Sneed became Principal Chief. Speaking to WLOS in 2017, Sneed most recently called for community "healing" following Lambert's removal. Sneed was re-elected as Principal Chief in 2019 for a full-term, but lost reelection in 2023 to former Chief Michell Hicks.

## Electoral history

2015 EBCI Vice Chief primary election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Richard (Richie) Sneed | Richard (Richie) Sneed | 990 | 33.88% |
| Larry Blythe (Incumbent) | Larry Blythe (Incumbent) | 847 | 28.99% |
| Dan McCoy | Dan McCoy | 652 | 22.31% |
| James (Bud) Smith | James (Bud) Smith | 433 | 14.82% |
2015 EBCI Vice Chief general election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Richard (Richie) Sneed | Richard (Richie) Sneed | 2,191 | 59.06% |
| Larry Blythe (Incumbent) | Larry Blythe (Incumbent) | 1,516 | 40.94% |
2019 EBCI Principal Chief primary election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Teresa McCoy | Teresa McCoy | 1,132 | 42.21% |
| Richard Sneed (Incumbent) | Richard Sneed (Incumbent) | 1,117 | 41.65% |
| Carroll (Peanut) Crowe | Carroll (Peanut) Crowe | 433 | 16.14% |
2019 EBCI Principal Chief general election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Richard Sneed (Incumbent) | Richard Sneed (Incumbent) | 2,131 | 55.11% |
| Teresa McCoy | Teresa McCoy | 1,736 | 44.89% |
2023 EBCI Principal Chief primary election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Michell Hicks | Michell Hicks | 1,075 | 41.73% |
| Richard Sneed (Incumbent) | Richard Sneed (Incumbent) | 548 | 21.27% |
| Robert Saunooke | Robert Saunooke | 441 | 17.11 |
| Gary Ledford | Gary Ledford | 254 | 9.86 |
| Gene Crowe Jr. | Gene Crowe Jr. | 141 | 5.47 |
| Lori Taylor | Lori Taylor | 117 | 4.54 |
2023 EBCI Principal Chief general election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Michell Hicks | Michell Hicks | 2,254 | 65.03% |
| Richard Sneed (Incumbent) | Richard Sneed (Incumbent) | 1,212 | 34.97% |