Martselos wins again
Salt River chief re-elected in close race
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Monday, October 6, 2014
SALT RIVER FIRST NATION
Frieda Martselos has been re-elected chief of Salt River First Nation in a close race.
Frieda Martselos: has been re-elected as chief of Salt River First Nation. She received 135 votes in the Sept. 29 election. Runner-up April McAllister received 129 votes. |
Martselos collected 135 votes to edge her closest competitor, April McAllister, who earned 126 votes, in the Sept. 29 election for the Fort Smith band.
The third candidate in the race for chief was Melvin Wandering Spirit, who received 29 votes.
Attempts by News/North to reach Martselos and McAllister for comment were unsuccessful.
The nine-vote difference between the two was not enough for a recount under the rules in the band's election code, said electoral officer Lynda Martin. "In order for a recount to be requested, there has to be a spread of five or less votes."
As of Oct. 1, Martin said there had been no appeal of the election by any candidate.
The candidates had up to five days after the election to file such an appeal.
Six councillors were also elected on Sept. 29: Patricia Schaefer Coleman (233 votes), Ray Tourangeau (214 votes), Christopher Hunter (211 votes), Ronald Schaefer (206 votes), Norman Starr (161 votes) and Don Matthews (132 votes). The unsuccessful candidate for council was Kenneth Laviolette, who collected 126 votes.
The chief and councillors were all elected for two-year terms.
Polling stations for the election were held in both Fort Smith and Edmonton.
"All the other members outside get mail-in ballots," said Martin.
She was pleased with the turnout for the election.
"It was a big turnout this year. There were over 300 voters," she said.
There were a total of 328 ballots cast, including a few that were spoiled or rejected.
In all, the band has more than 700 eligible voters.
Martselos was first elected chief in 2007, although she was ousted by council less than a week later. She was returned to office in January of 2008 by a court ruling.
She resigned as chief in September of 2011, but returned to the leadership position in April of 2013.
