Three incumbents on Ketchikan Indian Community’s Tribal Council have won new terms. In results released by Ketchikan Indian Community Tuesday afternoon, Tribal Council members Lloyd Ruaro, Judy Leask Guthrie and Gianna Saanuga Willard were in the lead to claim new terms on the Tribal Council.
Ruaro earned 177 votes, Guthrie, 172, and Willard, 154. They are poised to take on three-year terms. Votes cast for other candidates included 142 for Ruschelle “Pebbles” Hull, 135 for Randy Williams, 124 for Sharyl Whitesides Yeisley and 121 for David Jensen. Write-in candidate Charlie White received 83 votes.
Ruaro thanked the tribe’s members, elders and staff in a written statement. He says he’s humbled.
“For the love of our tribe! Ha’waa!” Ruaro wrote to KRBD.
Judy Leask Guthrie told KRBD she attended a vote-counting event last night.
“I’m feeling really good about being re-elected with the other incumbents so that we can continue working on the major projects that KIC has identified through its strategic plan,” she said.
Gianna Saanuga Willard said it was a tough, well-fought race.
“It is a lot of hard work, and I’m ready to do the work,” she said. “I’m excited for the other people who also got voted on because I know that they’re also hard workers, and we have a lot of things that we need to get done.”
For the Advisory Health Board, the body that recommends health policy for the tribe, Amber Williams-Baldwin and Kristina Shorey held the lead for the two available seats, with 309 and 34 votes, respectively.
Amber Williams-Baldwin said she is thankful to serve another term.
“It’s a real passion of mine and I’m honored to be selected to keep doing this.”
Shorey did not immediately respond to a message from KRBD.
The results will be presented to the Tribal Council on Monday. The new tribe president and executive committee also will be selected at that meeting.
A total of 473 tribe members voted in the election on Monday.
Raegan Miller is a Report for America corps member for KRBD. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution at KRBD.org/donate.
