From Traverse City Record-Eagle:
PESHAWBESTOWN — Voters selected eight finalists for leadership positions in the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians’ primary election.
Two-term incumbent Chairman Robert Kewaygoshkum and council member Derek Bailey were the top two finishers in the tribal chairman’s race, according to preliminary election results, said Sam Evans, who heads the tribe’s election committee.
Those two candidates will square off in the May 21 regular election.
Former council member Thurlow “Sam” McClellan finished third in the chairman’s race, but unofficial vote totals for each candidate were not made available.
The top six finishers in the 20-person race for three seats on the Tribal Council include incumbents David Arroyo and Sandra Witherspoon, along with Brian Napont, Thomas Peters, Suzanne McSawby and Steven Feringa. They will compete for three available four-year terms on the council.
Evans said candidates have five days from Wednesday’s primary vote to challenge the results. The election committee is slated to meet April 16 to certify the totals.
Evans said 457 of the 864 eligible voters in the band’s six-county service area cast ballots in the primary, a voter turnout of almost 53 percent.
Voter registration deadline is May 14 for the May 21 vote.
Turtle Talk 