FORT BELKNAP, Mont. (NMB) – The Fort Belknap Election Committee held an inauguration for their 2021-2023 Tribal Council on Monday following the release of official results.
The final tally includes absentee ballots that were sent by election day and arrived at the Elections Office by November 12th. All candidates who were in the lead after unofficial results were released won their races.
Official Results are below (winners in bold, absentee votes in parentheses):
For the positions of President and Vice-President (four year terms):
- Jeffrey “Jeff” Stiffarm and Judith J. “Judy” King: 614 (+51)
- Andrew Russell Werk Jr. and John A. Allen: 413 (+55)
For seats on the Council (all two year terms):
- River Gros Ventre District Representative:
- Dominic Messerly: 173 (+10)
- Connie L. Filesteel: 121 (+21)
- Mountain Gros Ventre District Representative:
- William Hughes Sr.: 131 (+10)
- Warren D. Morin: 174 (+26)
- Gros Ventre At Large/Representative Elected by Gros Ventre Voters:
- Stephen “Shelly” Fox: 378 (+43)
- Harold “Jiggs” Main: 215 (+23)
- Gros Ventre At Large/Representative Elected by Both Tribes:
- Geno Levaldo: 651 (+45)
- Mike “Gopher” Fox: 370 (+58)
- River Assiniboine District Representative:
- Robert “Bobby” Ironmaker Sr.: 114 (+15)
- Derek “Sam” Azure: 155
- Mountain Assiniboine District Representative:
- Brian Kevin Wing: 130 (+11)
- Assiniboine At Large/Representative Elected by Both Tribes:
- Diana Bigby: 268 (+41)
- Tracy “Ching” King: 408 (+64)
For the race for Assiniboine At-Large Representative/Elected by Assiniboine Voters, the primary will take place on November 16th, and absentee balloting began on October 27th. The candidates are:
- Curtis Horn
- Tina Bierle Has The Eagle
- Cheryl D. Horn
- John Filesteel Jr.
- Alan “Al” Knute Kulbeck
- Gina Rae Helgeson
The reason the election for this seat is taking place after the other races is because of the lack of candidates before the original filing deadline.
