Voters are set to cast their ballots Friday in the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe’s general election, with four open seats and 16 candidates vying for positions.
The tribe, which has more than 2,000 members, will elect new representatives for its seven-person council, with each leader helping shape the sovereign nation’s future.
Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Towaoc Community Center and the White Mesa Community Center.
Multiple three-year terms are open. The council will elect a new chairman. A seat is available for one White Mesa representative. Two Towaoc seats are also open.
Candidates speaking to community members over the past weeks have touched on a diverse array of issues: water rights, housing, economic development, accountability of tribal officials and more.
Who is stepping aside and who is running for reelection?
Chairman Manuel Heart, whose seat is open, will not seek reelection, according to Constance Wall, chairperson of the Ute Mountain election board.
That means the tribe’s top leadership position is up for grabs.
Two seats for Towaoc representatives are available. Those who held the seats are running again, but only one of them is seeking to retain the same role. Current Councilman Conrad Jacket is running for council along with nine other candidates, whereas Councilman Darwin Whiteman Jr. is running for chairman, joining three other candidates.
Another seat is open for the tribe’s satellite community of White Mesa in Utah’s San Juan County. Malcolm Lehi, the current White Mesa councilman, is running for reelection against one other candidate, Gwen Cantsee.
| Archie House Jr. | Selwyn Whiteskunk |
| Anthony Bancroft | Darwin Whiteman Jr. |
| Conrad Jacket | Deanne House |
| Priscilla Blackhawk | Silverton House |
| Marilynn House | Evelyn Lopez |
| Gordan Hammond | Leland Collins |
| Fernessa Brooks | Angelita Berry |
| Gwen Cantsee | Malcolm Lehi |
According to election board chairperson Wall, ballot counting will begin right after votes are cast. An official from White Mesa will be traveling to Towaoc with ballots cast on the satellite reservation after 1 p.m.
Ballot counting will be closed to the public, according to a Wednesday post on the tribe’s informational Facebook page. Counts will be shared via online livestream.
Wall said this choice was made due to a recently tense environment among tribal members. A post Monday asked members not to make negative comments online.
“We kindly ask everyone to refrain from using this space to voice criticisms about tribal departments, programs, organizations, or individuals,” the post read. “We truly believe in fostering constructive dialogue, and your cooperation in keeping our conversations positive is greatly appreciated.”
Winners will likely show up to speak publicly to the community, Wall said. Chairman Heart may also speak, she said.
Pending the possibility of a recount in the case of a close call, results will be made official on Wednesday, Oct. 22, said Wall.
