According to unofficial election results, three incumbents were reelected to the Wrangell Cooperative Association tribal council last week and one new candidate was chosen by voters.
Tribal citizens chose four out of five candidates to join the council for two-year terms. Turnout for the March 10 election was 128 voters, the WCA reported, compared to 90 in the last election in November.
The winners are Luella Knapp (110 votes), Michelle Jenkins (86 votes), Richard Oliver (85 votes) and Jason Clark (72 votes). Of the winners, Clark is the only non-incumbent. Timothy Gillen Sr. trailed with 68 votes.
"I'll do my best to support the tribal community as best I can," Knapp said. "I think we have a good board."
This will be Knapp's third term on the council, she said. Among her goals, she wants the board to focus on growing tribal tourism in Wrangell.
Oliver, who said he has served on the board since 2011, said transboundary issues with British Columbia, including mining and rivers, are among his top concerns. He said his priorities also include maintaining the federal roadless rule in the Tongass National Forest and assisting in the passage of federal legislation to grant village corporate status and lands to so-called landless Alaska Native communities, including Wrangell.
Jenkins and Clark could not be reached for comment as of the Sentinel deadline for this week's newspaper.
The recently elected candidates will join the winners of the November tribal election: Frank Churchill Jr., DJ McConachie, Ed Rilatos and Lovey Brock.
The WCA said the election results will be certified on April 6.
Reader Comments(0)