Oglalas prepare for Oct. 7 primary

Oglalas prepare for Oct. 7 primary
By Heidi Bell Gease, Journal staff Saturday, September 27, 2008

More than 85 drug-free candidates are on the ballot for the Oglala Sioux
Tribe's Oct. 7 primary election.

This is the first election held since the tribal council passed a
resolution requiring elected officials to pass a hair-follicle drug
test. Candidates who filed petitions to run for office had to submit
negative test results in order to be placed on the ballot.

Tribal Election Commission Chairman Sid Witt said only three potential
candidates were declared ineligible because they tested positive for
drugs. The hair-follicle test screens for cocaine, marijuana,
amphetamines, opiates and PCP.

Two candidates were removed from the ballot because they did not take
the drug test, Witt said.

Several other candidates produced negative drug tests but missed the
deadline because of a misunderstanding. The board of appeals reinstated
all of those candidates, Witt said.

Witt doesn't mind the delay. "I'm just pleased that they're being role
models," he said.

In the presidential race, seven people will challenge John Yellow Bird
Steele for his job. Yellow Bird Steele, who is completing his fourth
term as tribal president, faces Bruce Whalen of Pine Ridge; Russell
Means of Porcupine; Donald Steele Jr., of Wounded Knee; Gerald "Jump"
Big Crow of Pine Ridge; Richard Iron Cloud of Porcupine; Francis Ruff of
LaCreek; and Theresa Two Bulls of Pine Ridge in the primary. The top two
vote-getters will advance to the general election Nov. 4.

This marks the third time that activist Russell Means has run for tribal
president. He defeated Yellow Bird Steele in two primaries in 2002 after
results of the first primary were thrown out amid concerns about
unlocked ballot boxes and missing voter-registration sheets. Yellow Bird
Steele won the general election, 56 percent to 44 percent.

Means won the 2004 primary by a landslide but later lost to Cecelia Fire
Thunder in the general election.

In the vice-presidential race, incumbent William "Shorty" Brewer faces
challengers Alice Perkins, Wakpamni; Charles Montileaux, Medicine Root;
Melanie Two Eagle, Porcupine; Thomas Poor Bear, Eagle Nest; and Daryl
Mesteth, Medicine Root. Again, the top two vote-getters will vie for the
seat Nov. 4.

In Eagle Nest District, four candidates will advance from the primary to
the general election to vie for the district's two seats. Candidates are
incumbent Jim Meeks, Floyd "Thilly" Wilcox, Eleanor Charging Crow, Wayne
Randall, James Red Willow and Billy Amiotte. Incumbent Tom Poor Bear is
running for vice-president.

In LaCreek District, incumbents Craig Dillon and Kimmy Clausen face
challengers Colene Bald Eagle, Tracy Jones and Stephanie Louden. The top
four will advance to the general election.

In Medicine Root District, incumbent Austin Watkins faces challengers
Joseph Rosales, Arlin Whirlwind Horse, Emma Featherman-Sam, Bernard L.
Shot With Arrows, Lucy A. Bull Bear, Archie Hopkins, Cordilia White Elk,
Stanley Little Whiteman Jr., William Montileaux and Denise Red Owl.
Incumbent Cora Whiting did not seek re-election. The top four
vote-getters will advance to the general election to vie for the two
council seats.

In Pass Creek District, current representative Ron Duke will run against
Lydia Bear Killer, Elaine Martinez, Anna Salomon, John Dubray Jr., and
James Cross to retain his seat. The top two vote-getters will advance.

In Pine Ridge Village District, incumbents Ella "John" Carlow and Carol
Crazy Thunder-O'Rourke are joined on the ballot by challengers Cleone
"Henny" Whalen, Gary D. Janis, John Mousseau, Myron E. Whalen Jr., Robin
Tapio, Elvyn Douglas Bissonette, Lawrence "Larry" Eagle Bull, Abraham
Tobacco, Bette Goings, Francyne Big Crow and Irene Red Cloud. Gerald
"Jump" Big Crow, who was elected to complete the term of council
representative Don Garnier after he resigned last year, is running for
tribal president. The top six finishers will advance to the general
election to vie for three council seats.

In Porcupine District, incumbents Wesley Chuck Jacobs and Philip Good
Crow face challengers Eldon Black Bull, Anthoney Wounded Head Sr., David
Pourier, Beverly A. Tuttle, Virgil "Chug" Bush Sr. Two Eagle, and Todd
O'Bryan. The top four vote-getters will go on to the general election.

Wakpamni District incumbents Tom Conroy and Sonia Little Hawk-Weston
face challengers Walt Big Crow, Ricky Gray Grass, Jessica Sioux Big
Crow, Geneva Lone Hill, Paul Red Feather, Herb Colhoff, Dan Rodriguez
Sr., Maxine Lakota and Richard Mousseau Jr. The top four vote-getters
advance to the general election.

In the Whiteclay/Oglala District, incumbents Floyd Brings Plenty and
Jason "Jake" Little will take on Jackson Ten Fingers, Frank Two Bulls
Sr., Ivan C. Tobacco, Ellen Fillspipe-Rodriguez, Valerie Janis-Kills
Small, Barbara Dull Knife, Paul Forney, Charles Spotted Thunder, Linda
Yellow Horse, Ivan Starr and Paul Little in the primary. The top four
vote-getters will advance.

In Wounded Knee District, incumbents Kathy Janis and Garfield
Steele-Little Dog are joined on the ballot by challengers Eugenio White
Hawk Sr., Garfield Apple, Collins J. Clifford Jr., and Phillip Jumping
Eagle. The top four vote-getters go on to the general election.

All elected tribal positions are two-year terms.

Contact Heidi Bell Gease at 394-8419 or heidi.bell@rapidcityjournal.com

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2008/09/27/news/local/doc48dd288233234029115399.txt