In results announced during the Oct. 2 Annual General Membership meeting, Tribal Members elected three incumbents and one newcomer to four seats on the Tribal Council.
Election Board Chair Logan Wik, at right, swears in Wayne D. Wilson Jr., Liisia Blizzard, Ronette Stanton and Bernadine Atchison after announcing the election results.
The General Meeting was held virtually, and Tribal Members submitted ballots by mail, to protect the health and safety of Tribal Members.
On behalf of the Tribe, Coghill Group PC, mailed 713 absentee ballots on Aug. 9 to Tribal Members who were qualified to vote in the election. The Tribe’s Constitution defines a qualified voter as “(a)ny duly enrolled member of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, eighteen (18) years of age or older who resides in Alaska.” Tribal Members returned 264 absentee ballots to the Coghill Group by the Sept. 27 deadline. Some voters chose to vote for fewer than four candidates.
From the field of 10 candidates, Ronette Stanton received the most votes, 140, to win a Council seat. Tribal Members also re-elected Bernadine Atchison with 130 votes, Wayne D. Wilson Jr. with 106 votes, and Liisia K. Blizzard with 97 votes.
Other candidates on the ballot were Sharon Isaak, who received 89 votes; Brenda M. Blankenship, 84 votes; Gabe Juliussen, 79 votes; Audré Gifford-Hickey, 76 votes; George C. Wright, 52 votes; and Darrell Tepp, 39 votes.
Six people received write-in votes: Sagen Juliussen with seven; Jimmy Coveyou with six; Susan Wells and Jennifer Showalter Yeoman each with two; and Rose Tepp and Majorie Weeks each with one.
Following the Annual Meeting, the Tribal Council met to determine officers for the coming year. Bernadine Atchison will continue as Chair, with Mary Ann Mills as Vice Chair, Diana L. Zirul as Treasurer, and Stanton as Secretary. Wilson, Blizzard and Virginia Wolf round out the Council.
