THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
Frieda Martselos is back as chief of Salt River First Nation in Fort Smith.
Frieda Martselos: former chief once again to lead Salt River First Nation. - NNSL file photo
|
Martselos, who resigned as chief in September of 2011 following four tumultuous years as leader, won an April 2 byelection against three other candidates.
She collected 95 votes, compared to 62 votes for Warren Gagnon, 46 for Brad Laviolette and 43 for Henry Beaver Jr.
An attempt to reach Martselos for comment about her win was unsuccessful. When News/North called the Salt River band office, a reporter was told the new chief doesn't want to speak to the media.
The byelection became necessary when the previous chief, David Poitras, resigned on Jan. 26 in a dispute with council over band finances.
Martselos first served as chief until she resigned in September of 2011 over disagreements with the council at that time. Since then, she and her husband opened a new hotel in Fort Smith and she unsuccessfully ran for a seat on town council in last year's municipal election.
The April 2 byelection also involved a very close three-way race to fill a vacant seat on council.
The new councillor is Don Matthews Jr., who collected 84 votes, compared to 80 votes for Debbie Sikyea and 76 votes for Gabriel Mabry.
This will be the first time Matthews will serve on band council.
The 29-year-old said many band members wanted him to run and try to make changes at the band.
As for what those possible changes might be, that is still to be determined.
"I'm ready to work with the people and see what we have to do in there," Matthews said.
The new band councillor unsuccessfully ran to become a Fort Smith town councillor in the municipal elections of 2012 and 2009.
Lynda Martin, the Salt River First Nation electoral officer, said Sikyea could have requested a recount within 24 hours because the vote tally was so close, but she decided not to do so.
The byelection for the seat on council became necessary with the sudden death of Coun. Olga Mansbridge in early January.
Martselos will complete the two-year term of Poitras, while Matthews will complete Mansbridge's two-year term.
"They're in there now until September of 2014," said Martin.
At that time there will be an election for chief and all of council.
About 270 people voted in the byelection out of an eligible electorate of approximately 600.
Martin said it was a "very good" turnout.
A polling station was held in Fort Smith and another in Edmonton. Band members elsewhere could vote by mail-in ballots.
