New Colville Business Council members sworn in

The Colville Business Council, the governing body of the Colville Tribes, swore in four newly elected candidates and three incumbents July 9 in a quiet ceremony that has previously been a much larger occasion. 

Seven of the CBC’s 14 positions came up for election this year for two-year terms. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Tribal Tribune reported, a minimum number of people attended the swearing in at the Lucy F. Covington Government Center on the Colville Tribal Agency near Nespelem.

Attendees maintained six-foot distances from each other, and CBC member Jack Ferguson attended via phone. 

New council members sworn in included: for the Omak district, Dustin Best and Virgil “Smoker” Marchand, and for the Nespelem district Sharlene “Shar” Zacherle and Andy Joseph Jr.

Incumbent candidates sworn in included Joseph Somday from the Keller district and Richard Swan and Marvin Kheel from the Inchelium district.

Outgoing Councilmember Darnell Sam was presented with a Pendleton blanket and thanked for his time in office.

Following the swearing in, the CBC members were voted by their fellow members to positions on the council. 

Rodney Cawston was voted by acclamation to continue as chairman of the CBC. 

Joel Boyd was elected as vice-chair of the executive committee, and Karen Condon as secretary of the executive committee.

Committee chair appointments were as follows: Natural Resource Committee, Jarred-Michael Erickson; Management and Budget/Community Development Committee,  Jack Ferguson; Tribal Government Committee, Roger Finley; Employment and Education Committee, Joel Boyd; Law and Justice/Veterans Committee, Dustin Best; Health and Human Services Committee, Norma Sanchez; Culture Committee, Virgil “Smoker” Marchand; Fisheries Committee, Jarred-Michael Erickson.