Chair trails two in tribal primary

Colville Business Council Chairman Michael O. Finley is behind two challengers in Saturday’s poll votes for the tribal leadership election.

Finley currently holds Position 2 in the Inchelium District and chairs the 14-member council.

Both Marvin Joseph Kheel (61 votes) and Yvonne Swan (52 votes) garnered more poll votes than Finley’s 45. Polling was certified Monday. Others in that race include Marlin R. Simpson (30 votes) and Pat Laramie-Brooks (15 votes).

Absentee ballots have yet to be counted and will be certified May 8. The top two candidates for each position move on to the general election June 14.

ln other contests, incumbent William “Billy” Nicholson, running for re-election in the Nespelem District’s Position 1, led all candidates in his district with 127 votes. Next to him was Amelia (Moses) Marchand with 98 votes. Shawnee N. BearCub had 49 votes.

In Nespelem District 2, incumbent Nancy Cawston Johnson trailed Harvey Moses, Jr., 81-77. Others in that race include Charlene BearCub with 53 votes and Brian J. Nissen with 65 votes.

In the Omak District, neither incumbent filed for re-election.

Leading in the Position 1 race was Edwin L. Marchand with 103 votes, followed by John E. Gorr with 55 votes, James A. McCuen with 52 votes, Shirley K. Charley with 33 votes and Kate Sanchez with 36 votes.

In the Omak Position 2 race, Michael E. Marchand leads with 110 votes, trailed by Duane E. Hall, Sr., with 78, Darlene “Dar” Burke with 52, Stuart J. Sellars with 29 and Launa L. Squetimkin with 10.

There were no primary races in the Inchelium 1 race, or the Keller Position 1 race.