Means and Two Bulls to meet in Oglala president race

By Heidi Bell Gease, Journal staff Wednesday, October 15, 2008Means received 933 votes in the Oct. 7 primary, and Two Bulls gathered 804 votes. Current tribal president John Yellow Bird Steele finished third, with 721 votes.

Gerald "Jump" Big Crow received 303 votes; Richard Iron Cloud, 240; Francis Ruff, 170; Donald Steele Jr., 152; and Bruce Whalen, 123 votes.

In the vice-presidential race, incumbent William "Shorty" Brewer pulled in 888 votes. Alice Perkins finished second, with 648 votes and will face Brewer on the ballot Nov. 4. Tom Poor Bear finished a close third, with 640 votes.

Melanie Two Eagle received 617 votes; Charles Montileaux, 365; and Daryl Mesteth, 284 votes.

Official primary results for the reservation's nine districts are as follows, according to information provided by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Election Office.

Eagle Nest District -- Incumbent Jim Meeks (130 votes) will be on the ballot with Billy Amiotte (121), Wayne Randall (61) and James Red Willow (55). Voters will elect two of the four. Other candidates were Floyd "Chilly" Wilcox (52) and Eleanor Charging Crow (48).

LaCreek District -- Incumbents Craig Dillon (150 votes) and Kim Clausen (117) will face Colene Bald Eagle (105) on Nov. 4. The top two vote-getters will win council seats.

Medicine Root District -- Joseph Rosales (93 votes), Emma Featherman-Sam (92) and Stanley Little Whiteman Jr. (84) will be on the ballot with incumbent Austin Watkins (83) to vie for two council seats. Other candidates were Lucy A. Bull Bear (61), Cordelia White Elk (53), Denise Red Owl (53), Arlin Whirlwind Horse (52), Bernard L. Shot With Arrows (51), William Montileaux (44) and Archie Hopkins (42).

Pass Creek District -- Lydia Bear Killer (117 votes) and James Cross (93) will face off in the election for one council seat. Other candidates were Anna Salomon (61), incumbent Ron Duke (57), Elaine Martinez (45) and John Dubray Jr. (37).

Pine Ridge District -- Incumbent Ella "John" Carlow finished first, with 240 votes. She will be joined on the ballot by Gary D. Janis (225), Robin Tapio (215), John Mousseau (205), Bette Goings (201) and Lawrence "Larry" Eagle Bull (188). Three council representatives will be elected. Other candidates were Abraham Tobacco (176), Elvyn Douglas Bissonette (112), Cleone "Henny" Whalen (85), Francyne Big Crow (82), Irene Red Cloud (28) and Myron E. Whalen Jr. (22).

Porcupine District -- Incumbent Phillip Good Crow and Anthony Wounded Head Sr. both received 113 votes. They will face David Pourier (91) and Beverly A. Tuttle (87) in the Nov. 4 election for two council seats. Incumbent Wesley "Chuck" Jacobs received 81 votes. Other candidates were Eldon Black Bull (59), Todd O'Bryan (29) and Virgil "Chug" Bush Sr. Two Eagle (33).

Wakpamni District -- Incumbent Sonia Little Hawk Weston was the top vote-getter, with 211 votes. She will be on the Nov. 4 ballot with Ricky Gray Grass (118), Dan Rodriguez Sr. (108) and incumbent Tom Conroy (99) to vie for two council seats. Other candidates were Maxine Lakota (97), Herb Colhoff (94), Geneva Lone Hill (86), Walt Big Crow (66), Jessica "Sioux" Big Crow (47) and Paul Red Feather (45).

Whiteclay/Oglala District -- Valerie Janis-Kills Small (113 votes), Ivan Starr (106), incumbent Floyd Brings Plenty (88) and Barbara Dull Knife (87) will advance to the general election to vie for two council seats. Other candidates were Jackson Ten Fingers (73), Ivan C. Tobacco (65), incumbent Jason "Jake" Little (64), Linda Yellow Horse (55), Ellen Fills Pipe-Rodriguez (54), Charles Spotted Thunder (54), Frank Two Bulls Sr. (41) and Paul Forney (30).

Wounded Knee District -- Phillip Jumping Eagle (171 votes), incumbent Garfield Steel-Little Dog (164), Garfield Apple (152) and Eugenio White Hawk Sr. (152) will face off in the race for two council seats. Incumbent Kathy Janis received 133 votes.

Several candidates listed on the primary ballot were not included in final primary tallies received from the election office. Pine Ridge District incumbent Carol Crazy Thunder-O'Rourke, LaCreek District candidates Tracy Jones and Stephanie Louden, Wakpamni District candidate Richard Mousseau Jr., and Wounded Knee District candidate Collins Clifford Jr. did not appear in the official primary results. Election commission officials could not be reached Tuesday for clarification.

Tribal members went to the polls Oct. 7 to cast votes in the primary election. Official results were released Tuesday after about 400 challenge votes had been verified and all votes tallied by hand.

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