Republicans nation-wide may not know who their choices will be in a year, but voters in the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation tribal council elections know their contenders as of Wednesday.
The tribal primary election was held on Tuesday, with at least one race needing a recount, which was done on Wednesday afternoon and had the same result.
In the Assiniboine at-large representative election voted on by both Assiniboine and Gros Ventre tribal members the two candidates of six will be Chris A. “Smiley” Gardipee Jr., who received 330 votes, and Donovan Archambault, who got 336.
For the Gros Ventre at-large representative election, also voted on by both tribes, the top two of the nine who were in that race were Marilyn Bigby, with 176 votes, and Wes Kill Eagle Sr., with 238 votes.
For the Assiniboine representative at-large that is elected by only fellow tribe members, the top two of the original three candidates are Ed “Buster” Moore Jr., with 208 votes, and John A. Allen, with 235 votes.
The Gros Ventre representative at-large candidates to be elected by fellow Gros Ventre were whittled to two: Michael “Gopher” Fox, with 220, and Harold J. “Jiggs” Main, with 212.
The River Assiniboine district representative election candidates will be Gerald “Manny” Healy Jr., who received 141 votes, and Curtis Horn, with 76 votes.
Patricia “Patty” Quisno received 126 votes and William “Snuffy” Main received 110 votes for the race for River Gros Ventre district representative.
Mountain Assiniboine candidates will be Will James Crasco, who won 65 votes and Alpha “Deanie” Ironman who won 71 votes.
And in the Mountain Gros Ventre race, Andrew R. Werk Jr. got 95 votes and Ken Morin got 105 votes.
The general election, to decide the final occupants of these positions, will be on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Assiniboine At-Large Rep.
(Elected by all voters, both tribes)
Donovan Archambault 336
Chris “Smiley” Gardipee Jr. 330
Kenneth D. Shawl 232
Julia Mount Lamebull 113
Max White Jr. 106
D’Lynn Snell Werk 79
Gros Ventre At-Large Rep.
(Elected by all voters, both tribes)
Wes Kill Eagle Sr. 238
Marilyn Bigby 176
Ed “Edio” Doney 158
John K. Hawley 140
Raymond Chandler Sr. 128
Joan Johnson 109
Marlene Stiffarm 96
Dawn Marie Cochran 90
Judith “Judy” Carrywater 59
Assiniboine Rep. At-Large
(Elected by Assiniboine voters only)
Ed “Buster” Moore Jr. 208
John A. Allen 235
Tina Rae Has The Eagle 95
Gros Ventre Rep. At-Large
(Elected by Gros Ventre voters only)
Michael “Gopher” Fox 220
Harold J. “Jiggs” Main 212
Virgil Talks Different 124
Edward R. Halver 110
River Assiniboine District Rep.
Gerald “Manny” Healy Jr. 141
Curtis Horn 76
Richard K. “Rick” Weasel 72
Steve Archambault 39
Cheryl “Jill” Plumage 26
River Gros Ventre District Rep.
Patricia “Patty” Quisno 126
William “Snuffy” Main 110
Arlene Cochran 89
Mountain Assiniboine District Rep.
Alpha Deanie Ironman 71
Will James Crasco 65
Brian Wing 63
Mountain Gros Ventre District Rep.
Ken Morin 105
Andrew R. Werk Jr 95
Patty Carrywater 75
Brenda Essert 63
