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THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
Ken Hudson has been re-elected president of the Fort Smith Metis Council.

Ken Hudson: back for another two years as president of the Fort Smith Metis Council. - NNSL file photo

Hudson, who has been president since 1999, was returned for another two-year term at the council's annual general assembly on Jan. 28.

"I think I must have set some kind of record locally," he said of his number of years in office, adding he might consider running for re-election next term.

Hudson, 62, was challenged for the leadership by Marilyn Napier. The number of votes received by each candidate was not announced at the assembly.

There were also elections for other members of the executive and board.

Allan Heron was elected vice-president, while Betty Villebrun is now secretary-treasurer. Previously, Villebrun had been vice-president and Heron had been secretary-treasurer.

Hudson said it makes sense for Villebrun and Heron to switch positions on the executive, explaining he often travels to leadership meetings and Villebrun attends the same meetings in her other role as president of the Northwest Territory Metis Nation.

"So it left a void in the community as far as leadership," he said, explaining Heron as vice-president will now still be in Fort Smith.

Josh Tordiff was elected the youth representative on the board, while Earl Evans is the elders' representative.

The directors are Louise Fraser, Leah Desjarlais, Vance Sanderson, Darrell Loutit, Gordon (Junior) Pischinger and Chuck Heron.

Twelve people ran for the six director positions.

Hudson said the only person who was elected by acclamation in any election at the assembly was Villebrun as secretary-treasurer.

Nearly to 80 members attended the assembly, which Hudson described as a good turnout. "In the past, we had trouble getting a quorum of 35."

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