CSKT Chairwoman Fyant trailing in early election results

by Lake County Leader
| December 20, 2021 11:03 AM

Early results from last weekend’s Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes election indicate a shake-up in Tribal Council leadership is on the horizon.

Members went to the polls Saturday with five seats on the ballot.

Early results released Saturday show Councilwoman Shelly Fyant of Arlee trailing Arlee District write-in challenger Jim Malatare 383 to 149.

Official results are expected soon after a final tally on Wednesday, Dec. 22, when more than 600 absentee ballots and about 183 contested ballots will be counted.

Polson District incumbent Charmel Gillin also trails in early results, which have challenger Jennifer Finley leading 398 to 132.

Incumbents Carole Lankford, of the Ronan District, and Leonard TwoTeeth, of the Elmo District, have big leads early on. Lankford leads Leonard Michel 401 to 136, while TwoTeeth leads Art Caye 441-95.

Tom McDonald holds a 373 to 156 lead over Dan Depoe in the new at-large district.