Purnell Swett, a former educator in Robeson County, will become the next chairman of the Lumbee Tribe.

Voters on Tuesday handed the former Robeson County Schools superintendent a solid victory over his two challengers, Hoke County Commissioner Tony Hunt and Tribal Councilman Terry Campbell. Swett will take over the tribe’s leadership position in January from Jimmy Goins, who by tribal law could not seek a third consecutive term.

Unofficial results showed that 6,778 of the tribe’s 31,336 eligible voters — 21.6 percent — cast ballots. Swett won with 3,371 votes, almost 50 percent, Hunt received 2,758, about 41 percent, of the vote, Campbell took 649 votes, about 9 percent.

“Tonight we were very successful,” Swett told a crowd of his supporters gathered at the Southeastern Regional Farmers Market shortly after his victory was assured. “You the people took ownership of my candidacy and made it go.”

Swett said he plans to take a couple of days off to rest before starting to prepare to take over the tribal leadership.

“I don’t get sworn-in until the second Tuesday in January. That gives me time to start making a map to deal with promises I made for the long and short term during the campaign.”

Swett emphasized the need for his administration and the Tribal Council to work well together.

“To be successful we have to have a good relationship,” he said. “That’s the message people were sending me during this campaign. They want a chairman and a council that work together.”

Hunt did not return phone calls to comment on the election results. Campbell, however, said he was “very proud of the outcome.”

“We couldn’t have a better candidate for chairman than Swett,” he said as he watched the votes tallied at the farmers market. “I’m looking forward to working with the new chairman.”

Campbell, who still has two years remaining on his council term, said that he will seek the chairmanship again.

“I will be back,” he said. “Now people know who I am.”