CSKT members elect new Tribal Council
KRISTI NIEMEYER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 11 months AGO
Kristi Niemeyer is editor of the Lake County Leader. She learned her newspaper licks at the Mission Valley News and honed them at the helm of the Ronan Pioneer and, eventually, as co-editor of the Leader until 1993. She later launched and published Lively Times, a statewide arts and entertainment monthly (she still publishes the digital version), and produced and edited State of the Arts for the Montana Arts Council and Heart to Heart for St. Luke Community Healthcare. Reach her at [email protected] or 406-883-4343. | January 2, 2024 11:00 PM
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes members chose incumbent James “Bing” Matt as an at-large representative on the Tribal Council, returned Martin Charlo and Michael Dolson to their seats, and elected former councilman James Steele Jr. to represent St. Ignatius and newcomer Danielle Matt to represent Dixon.
The election was held Dec. 16, and with certified results released Dec. 20.
Final vote tallies are:
At-large: incumbent James “Bing” Matt, 658; incumbent Ellie Bundy, 437.
Dixon: Danielle Matt, 669; incumbent Terry Pitts, 405.
Hot Springs: Incumbent Michael Dolson, 558; Becky “Bink” O’Bennick Knapp, 531.
Pablo: Incumbent Martin Charlo, 604; Levi (Jerry) Hewankorn, 491.
St. Ignatius: James Steel Jr., 671; Jera Stewart, 420.
The five Tribal Council members whose positions are not up for election in this cycle are Chairman Tom McDonald, Vice Chair Len Twoteeth, Carole Lankford, Jennifer Finley and Jim Malatare.
Of the 10 council representatives, each is elected for a four-year term in a staggered election with five seats open every two years. In 2021, the Tribal Council established two at-large seats by reducing the number of representatives in the Arlee and Mission districts from two to one apiece.
ARTICLES BY KRISTI NIEMEYER
Road makeovers get high marks from drivers and engineers in Lake County
“Those are the best roads in Lake County,” enthused a driver recently after trying out the new surfaces of North Reservoir Road, south of Polson, and Dublin Gulch Road, north of St. Ignatius.
Dedicated Doc: Dr. Ed Vizcarra leaves legacy of patient-centered care
When beloved family physician Ed Vizcarra retired from St. Luke Community Healthcare Network at the end of October, generations of patients and hospital staff flocked to his retirement party to express their gratitude.
“Great communities are built on volunteers”
Cars and trucks lined Main Street in Polson to collect Thanksgiving dinners from the Elks Club last Thursday. The drive-through dinner, commandeered by field marshal Tracy Plaiss, served 1,800 Thanksgiving dinners, made from scratch. A few miles south, the Ronan Community Thanksgiving dinner filled a room in the Boys and Girls Club with tables of visiting people and the aromas of roasting turkey and savory dressing.