Ex-Tribal Councilman Staging A Comeback Incumbents Lead All Other Races For Seats On Colvilles Council

Fri., May 22, 1998

By John Craig johnc@spokesman.com

Former Colville Confederated Tribes Councilman Richard Swan, turned out of office last year, is making a strong comeback.

Running for a different council position, Swan has a 3-2 edge over former tribal executive director Debra Rosenbaum-Watt in last weekend’s primary election.

He had a 2-1 lead until a large number of absentee ballots were counted Thursday.

Swan has 182 votes in the race for Inchelium District Position 2 compared with 119 for Rosenbaum-Watt; 86 for former Councilman Lou Stone, who briefly succeeded Rosenbaum-Watt as executive director; and 75 for incumbent Councilman Jerry Stensgar.

The top two vote-getters for each council position will advance to the June 20 general election.

Here are tentative results in other primary races:

Inchelium District, Position 1: Incumbent Bob Louie, 204; Debra Finley-Justus, 111; Michael Whitney, a former tribal police lieutenant and former acting police chief, 95; and Kimsqualhane Joe Baulne, 26.

Nespelem District, Position 1: Incumbent Deb Louie, 273; Gene Joseph, 188; and Harvey Moses Jr., 124.

Nespelem District, Position 2: Incumbent Cindy Boyd, 163; Colleen Cawston, 153; William Dick, 108; Charlene Bearcub, 100; and Sheilah Cleveland, 64.

Omak District, Position 1: Incumbent Michael Marchand, 245; James McCuen, 188; Francis Louie Sr., 39; and Garry McDonald Sr., 23.

Omak District, Position 2: Incumbent Doll Watt, 232; Margie Condon Hutchinson, 199; and Berny Zacherle, 64.

Keller District: Incumbent Jeanne Jerred, 73; Oscar “Doc” Mellon, 53; John Stensgar, 48; Dana Brudevold Wippel, 22; and Jonnie Bray, 6.

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