Skunkcap, Boyer & Thompson advance to General Election
From left, Marlene Skunkcap, Devon Boyer and Elma Thompson.
By JOSEPH WADSWORTH
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Primary Election counting of ballots was Friday, April 24, in the Tribal Council Chambers. The three top unofficial vote getters for the election were Marlene Skunkcap with 280 votes, Devon Dwayne Boyer with 275 votes and Elma J. Thompson with 234 votes.
They advance to the May 29 General Election to face off against the three incumbents Tino Batt, Kevin Callahan and Edison Darrell Dixey.
Other candidates and their votes were: Darrell Shay 228; Nancy Eschief Murillo 183; Wesley Edmo 156; Sherwin L. Racehorse 111; Helena Rose Hall 106; Marina Fast Horse 103 and Luke Eagle 57.
A total of 657 votes were cast and there were three voided ballots. A total of 1,258 ballots were mailed out to registered tribal voters and 660 were returned.
At the start of the count Election Board chair Marlene Quanda welcomed everyone to the count and each board member introduced themselves, Terry Rainey from Automated Election Services of Albuquerque, New Mexico, helped provide support in the election mail in process. Four tribal candidates Luke Eagle, Marlene Skunkcap, Wesley Edmo and Elma J. Thompson were in attendance for the ballot count. There was also two Fort Hall police officers in the chambers.
Marlene Quanda election board chair said the board may do the mail in ballots in the future but would like a lot of input from the Shoshone-Bannock tribal membership. “Some of the other tribes that have gone with these mail in ballots have had an improvement in the voting count” said Quanda and to her that was really good.
Marlene Skunkcap who was the overall top winner said it was a very unusual election because she was not planning on just sitting at home during her campaign for around a month and a half. She said there is many issues that need to be addressed and she is willing to work with the council and from hearing from the tribal membership about needing more women on the council and now there is two women wanting to be elected. Skunkcap said she would really appreciate further support.
Elma J. Thompson who is currently working as a surveillance manager at the Shoshone-Bannock Casino & Hotel, said she is committed in helping and wanting to make a difference. Because of COVID-19 Thompson explained “we need to learn a lesson we’ve gone through this now and now we need to take something away from that and go forward.”
Wesley Edmo said thanks to everyone and to all who participated in the tribal election, and it’s important to not forget about our values and our people and to remember that when elected to the business council you become a public servant to the people.
