TOWAOC - After her fifth campaign attempt, Marissa Box has finally landed a seat on the Ute Mountain Ute tribal council. Incumbent Juantita Plentyholes was also re-elected.
“I had a dream, and now I’m here,” Box said moments after ballots were counted on Friday. Oct. 9.
In her acceptance speech, Box challenged tribal members never to give up on their goals and aspirations, reiterating that their dreams could come true too.
Receiving 159 votes, or nearly 1 in 4 cast in today’s election, Box improvised when asked to list her top three goals as a new tribal councilmember.
“I want to be the voice of the people,” she said.
Box will assume command on the tribal council at a swearing in ceremony on Nov. 6, filling the seat vacated by retiring councilman Gary Hayes.
Incumbent tribal councilwoman Juanita Plentyholes was re-elected to her post with 130 votes. She not only thanked voters for their trust in her to continue leading the Southwest Colorado tribe, but she also congratulated Box on her winning campaign.
“We have a lot of work to accomplish,” said Plentyholes.
A total of 689 ballots were cast in the latest council election, an above average turnout, according to tribal officials.
Garnering 95 votes each, nearly missing the cut, were Ulysses Lang and Conrad Jacket. The next closest competitors were Rudy Hammand, Emeline Casey and Davis Wing, who each received 49, 48 and 46 votes, respectively.
Others receiving votes included candidates Bradley Height, with 28, and Christine Lehi, with 17. A total of 22 ballots were declared invalid because of improper markings.
The transparent election results were not only tabulated in public from the Towaoc Community Center before a dozen or so residents, but they were also broadcast live on closed circuit tribal television.
Tallying the votes, an election official drew individual ballots from a clear box, handing it to another official that read the votes aloud. A third election official subsequently placed a mark next to the corresponding candidate’s name printed on a giant wall poster. Absentee ballots were also opened and counted publicly.
After the votes were totaled, Ute Mountain Ute Chairman Manual Heart, councilwoman Pricilla Blackhawk-Rentz and councilman Malcolm Lehi each thanked tribal residents for participating in the election process.
tbaker@the-journal.com