Gearing up for CSKT Tribal Council primary election
EMILY MESSER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 month, 3 weeks AGO
Emily Messer joined the Lake County Leader in July of 2025 after earning a B.A. degree in Journalism from the University of Montana. Emily grew up on a farm in the rolling hills of southeast Missouri and enjoys covering agriculture and conservation. She's lived in Montana since 2022 and honed her reporter craft with the UM J-School newspaper and internships with the RMEF Bugle Magazine and the Missoulian. At the Leader she covers the St. Ignatius Town Council, Polson City Commission and a variety of business, lifestyle and school news. | October 9, 2025 12:00 AM
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are having their primary election on Oct. 11 to consolidate the candidates to two for each of the four districts in preparation for the general elections.
All members of the CSKT Tribes over the age of 18-years-old have the right to vote if they provide a physical residence for the last year on the Flathead Reservation. A qualified person who is unable to cast their vote in person can request an absentee ballot before the election from the Election Board by a written request.
Candidates include:
At-large: Incumbent Tom McDonald, Lois Friedlander, Jesse Nenemay and Sam Barnaby.
Elmo: Incumbent Len TwoTeeth, Sakaki Joseph-McDougall and Louis-Junior-Caye.
Polson: Incumbent Jennifer Finley, Jolene Gauthier, Jami L. Pluff and Jim Steele Sr.
Ronan: Incumbent Carole J. Depoe Lankford and Ronald A Couture.
Arlee: Incumbent Jim Malatare, Cainan Monroe, Joseph G. Pablo, Vance Home Gun and Greg Dumontier.
The four Tribal Council members whose positions are not up for election are Chairman Michael Dolson, Secretary Martin Charlo, Treasurer James Steele Jr., At Large James “Bing” Matt and Danielle Matt. Each of the ten representatives are elected for four-year terms with staggered elections every two years. In 2027 the five incumbents will be up for re-election.
To qualify for an at-large seat, the candidate must be a CSKT member who has lived on the reservation for at least one year and must continue to reside on the reservation for the entirety of their term.
The Flathead Reservation includes eight districts: Jocko Valley (Arlee), Mission, Ronan, Pablo, Polson, Elmo–Dayton, Hot Springs–Camas Prairie, and Scilip (Dixon).
Polls will be open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 11 at the following locations: Arlee Indian Senior Center, Anita Matt Building in Dixon, Hot Spring Indian Senior Center, Vern L. Clairmont Building in the Tribal Complex in Pablo, St. Ignatius Indian Senior Center, Elmo Hall, Polson Indian Senior Center and Ronan Indian Senior Center.
ARTICLES BY EMILY MESSER
Vehicle submerged in Flathead River
Around 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 3 a call rang out over dispatch for a vehicle in the Flathead River on the corner of 7th Avenue and Kerr Dam Road in Polson.
Confirmed CWD leads to more sampling on the reservation
A recent confirmed case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) south of Ninepipes Lodge has led the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Wildlife Program to increase hunter check stations to better understand how widespread it is across the reservation.
City loses revenue on Bunkers but unsure what’s next
After the City of Polson lost its restaurant manager for Bunker's Bar & Grill earlier this month, City Commissioner Jake Holley questioned during last week’s meeting if the city should still be managing the grill.