Ronald Todd Appenay, Donna Thompson and Devon Boyer.
By LORI ANN EDMO
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Ronald Todd Appenay, Donna Thompson and Devon Boyer were elected to the Fort Hall Business Council May 31 in the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes General Election.
Appenay received 282 votes, Thompson received 256 votes and Boyer 252 votes. Other candidates include Roland Marshall 239 votes, Gaylen Vincent Edmo 193 votes and Claudia Washakie with 153 votes.
The three elected candidates will be sworn into office June 11 when new officers will be selected for the year. They join other council members Lee Juan Tyler, Ladd Edmo, Nancy Eschief-Murillo and Sam Matsaw Jr.
Appenay and Thompson were present at the election returns.
Sho-Ban Tribes General Election took place on May 31.
Appenay thanked those who voted for him, “from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for allowing me to lead this tribe into wealth and confidence to make this place a better place to live and to grow as a peaceful and dominant tribes.”
“To lead the next generation of followers and other tribes to call us grandfather tribe in innovation and development to be successful in this white world,” he continued. “And to make every individual a part of important decisions before making a decision that concerns all of our members and will continue to work along my fellow council members to represent our tribe with great pride and honor.”
Appenay said thank you again, “from me and my family for the votes. Thanks to my friends who always continued to support me in this year’s running for business council, ‘I’ll do my best.’”
Donna Thompson said, “Please all I can say is thank you to all my family and my friends that got out and voted, whether it was for me or somebody else. I just appreciate everybody's support and I will continue to do the best job that I can do from then on.” She’s looking forward to working with Todd and Devon. “So congratulations to the winners and congratulations to those candidates that also ran,” she concluded.
Election staff checks results.
Claudia Washakie said the clerks were working really hard during this day, as they do every year. “But I just want to say thank you. It's been an amazing two years, I enjoyed myself, I learned a lot.” She noted there's a lot that the Tribes can do to move forward. “So I just want to say thank you and good luck to Todd, Donna, and Devon and the other four that are on the council.”
Candidate Roland Marshall thanked everybody that took the time and got out there and voted and supported, “whoever it was you supported.” He congratulated the three winners. “It's a great honor to have the opportunity to sit up here and I wish you guys the best of luck.” “I hope that we as a people, we can support our leaders and show them support, show them and give them the respect that they deserve,” he continued. “It's been an honor to have the opportunity to run for council and have the support that I had.” He said moving forward “regardless of what I do, I know now, having a seat at this table for 22 years, I understand that I don't have to be a council member to make a difference for my tribe. I'm doing that right now and I'm going to continue to do that. But I wish them the best of luck and I look forward to working with them in the future.”