By Krystal Spring/Havre Daily News/kspring@havredailynews.com
A total of 68 Chippewa Cree tribal members have filed to run for positions on the tribe's business committee. The primary election will be held Oct. 1.
Among the positions up for election on the committee, also known as the tribal council, are chair and four seats on the committee. The incumbents for all five committee positions are running for re-election on the nine-person committee - including Alvin Windy Boy Sr. for chairman, and Raymond "Jake" Parker, Tony Belcourt, Charles Gopher and Pete LaMere for committee positions.
Committee member John "Chance" Houle is also running for chair. If he loses, he will have two years remaining in his term as a committee member.
Only the top eight vote-getters for committee seats and top two candidates for chair will move on to the Nov. 2 general election, according to Pauline Russette, the Chippewa Cree election board clerk.
Candidates who are defeated in the general election will have five days to contest the election results, said Mary Ruth St. Pierre, who chairs the election board.
"The elected officers will potentially be sworn in on Nov. 8," Russette said.
Tribally enrolled members age 18 and over are eligible to vote for tribal officers on Oct. 1 at the old Stone Child College gymnasium in Rocky Boy. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The candidates for chair are: Merle Belcourt, John "Chance" Houle, Thomas Roasting Stick, Russell Standing Rock and Alvin Windy Boy Sr.
Candidates for committee positions are: Robert Robbie Alexander, Clarence "CJ" Ameline, Earl Archie Arkinson, Harlan Gopher Baker, Luanne Belcourt, Tony Belcourt, Gilbert Belgarde, Joe Big Knife, Bert Corcoran, Peter Demontiney Sr., Bruce Denny, Walter "Moose" Denny, Manuel Duran Jr., Brian "Kelly" Eagleman, Francis Eagleman Sr., Jonathan Jay Eagleman, Arnold Four Souls, Harvey B. Friede Sr., Charles Gopher, Robert Gopher, George Henderson Sr., Lenno "Tugg" Henderson, Virgil Henderson, Ricky Houle, Russell J. Houle Sr., Tim Koop, Joseph J. LaFromboise Jr., Michael, L. LaMere, Pete T. LaMere, Larry J. Morsette Jr., Melvin Morsette Jr., Ricky Morsette, Janice (Raining Bird) Myers, Timothy (Tim) Nault Sr., Wilbert "Willie" Parisian Sr., John Parker Jr., Raymond (Jake) Parker Jr., Mario Patacsil Jr., Ivan "Johnny" Raining Bird, John (Sonny) Roasting Stick Jr., Tim W. Rosette Sr., Gibby Russette, Louis "Duce" Russette Sr., Paul "Frankie" Russette Jr., Teddy Russette III, Ken (Blatt) St. Marks, Debbie St. Pierre, Roger St. Pierre, Mike Sangrey, Gerald Small, Roy Small, Warren P. Small, Duncan Standing Rock Sr., Thomas Martin Stanley, Donovan Stump, Rocky L. Stump Jr., Suzanne Billy Stump, Dorene Tendoy, Eric C. Watson, Ivy M. Parker Watson, Gordon J. Whitford, Theodore E. Whitford Sr., and Kenny Writing Bird.
People eligible to vote in the election must possess a Tribal I.D. Such person must be a duly enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy Reservation.
