Candidates for 2024 Northern Cheyenne tribal elections

LAME DEER, MT: As of the October 3,2024 filing deadline for the 2024 tribal elections, 40 tribal members paid a filing fee and declared their, candidacy for nine open seats. There are several familiar names of incumbents, former office holders and community leaders among that number, but also many “fresh faces.”

The candidates eligibility must still be formally approved by the tribal Voter’s Committee to ensure that they meet the minimal eligibility requirements.

Candidates who filed are as follows:

Tribal President: Serena Weltherelt, (incumbent); Gene Small, rancher and former Director of the Tribal Land Authority and current Chair of the Grazing Board; Mevlin Ray Crazymule, newcomer to tribal politics; Sheldon King, former Busby District council member and current manager of Morning Star Propane, a tribal business; and Donna M. Fisher, former Tribal President who was removed from office a few years back.

Vice-President: Dana Eaglefeathers, former Busby District Council member, currently employed at the Western Energy coal mine; Ernest Littlemouth, incumbent Vice-President and former Busby district council member; Debra Charettee, Busby district Council member for two terms, retired from BIA as a secretary; and Henry Speelman, former Lame Deer district Council member, currently employed by tribal roads department.

Judge: S. David Roundstone, incumbent Chief Judge, former Busby District Council member, former Director Tribal Health and Charging Horse Casino; Angel Spottedwolf; current Tribal Court employee; and Curtis Elkshoulder Jr., former manager of Cheyenne Depot.

Ashland District Council seat: Melissa Fisher, incumbent; Don Lee Bixby, Newcomer to tribal politics; Joseph Little Coyote, also a newcomer; Daryl Medicine Bull, newcomer; and Larry Bartiett, newcomer and current maintenance director the Tribal Housing Authority;

Birney District Council seat: Llevando “Cowboy” Fisher, former Tribal President, numerous terms as Council. member, rancher, currently retired; Gwendelyn Spottedhorse, incumbent; Floyd Clubfoot, employed by Chief Dull Knife College; and Whitney Spang, newcomer.

Busby District Council seat: Tasheena Limpy, newcomer; Donovin Taylor, employed by the Tribe; Doris Littlewolf, former Tribal Judge; Sharlene Evans, former Tribal Secretary, employed by Tribal Land Authority; Lawrence Jace Killsback, numerous terms as Busby District council member, former Tribal Health Director and former Tribal President; Stephan Rainingbird, newcomer; and Keisha Howe, newcomer.

Lame Deer District Council seat: Hubert Blackwolf, newcomer employed as Cheyenne Language instructor at CDKC; Alan Joe Blackwolf, newcomer, former employed by Tribe; Robert Simpson, newcomer employed by Tribe with Tribal Buffalo herd project; Theresa Small, newcomer, employed by Tribe; Alvin Lee Strangeowl, newcomer; and Marlin Whitedirt, newcomer, employed by Tribal forestry.

Muddy District Council seat: Lynwood Ewing, former Tribal Council member and Director of Tribal Finance, rancher, currently retired; Jerry Kash, newcomer, employed at Western Energy coal mine; Lafe Haugen, small business owner, former director Tribal Housing Authority and current maintenance manager for Tribe; Patricia Tallbull, former tribal council member, former director of Tribal Social Services, currently retired; Holly Ricty, newcomer and Howard Ontivaros, newcomer.

The Primary election is scheduled for October 3, 2024 which will whittle the field down to eighteen candidates who will proceed to the General election on November 5, 2024.

(Clara Caufield can be reached at acheyenncvoicc2@gmail.com)

The post Candidates for 2024 Northern Cheyenne tribal elections first appeared on Native Sun News Today.

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