RST VOTERS FAVOR INCUMBENTS OVER CHALLENGERS IN PRIMARY ELECTION

NEWS ANALYSIS

By Gregg Bear

ROSEBUD — RST voters indicated Thursday that new business creation and legal alcohol sales carry enough bankable weight to overshadow three years of tribal-administration corruption allegations on the Rosebud Reservation, according to unofficial election returns.

In a near landslide over eight other candidates, President Rodney M. Bordeaux clearly showed he maintains sufficient popularity among tribal voters to handily win him a third term in office, based on the tribe’s primary election held July 26.

Bordeaux rocketed into first-place with 29 percent (787) of the vote to outdistance repeat challenger Cyril “Whitey” Scott who garnered 22 percent (593) to place second out of the pack. Bordeaux will face-off with Scott in the general election August 23.

In the vice-presidential race, longtime favorite incumbent William “Willie” Kindle marshaled a clear landslide with 55 percent (1477) of the vote over nearest contender Oliver J. Semans who managed 13 percent (358) out of five contestants.

Both men will face-off in the general election, in what political observers say is tantamount to an almost certain shutout in Kindle’s favor.

Bordeaux, with more than two terms in office, is credited with building the large, tribally-owned Turtle Creek Crossing Supermarket at a cost of more than $10 million and twice restarting Rosebud Auto Repair in Mission, along with opening the first tribally-owned beer-sales outlet on the reservation last year.

Although the food store has been steadily losing money since it opened in 2009—while reportedly maintaining a payroll of nearly 80 employees—voters have apparently remained impressed enough with Bordeaux’s performance that they’re willing to award his administration another three years in office.

That is, if his winning streak holds through the general election and his controversial reinstatement of police chief Grace Her Many Horses is upheld by the RST Council.

Bordeaux last week expressed to the Council he may secure another financial loan through the Shakopee Tribe in Minnesota to build a new tribal building. Under Bordeaux, Rosebud has racked up roughly $20 million in loans and grants from the Shakopees, according to tribal officials.

In the 10-seat Council race, the following candidates will face-off in the general election:

RST COUNCIL

ANTELOPE:

Rep. Scott O. Herman-545, and Calvin “Hawkeye” Waln Jr.-487.

BULL CREEK:

Rep. Todd Bear Shield (no challenger).

CORN CREEK:

Rep. Arlene (Old Lodge) Black Bear, and Brian Hart (no other candidates).

HE DOG:

Rep. Royal Yellow Hawk-800, and Mary Waln-905.

HORSE CREEK:

Fremont Fallis-467, Rep. Webster Two Hawk Sr.-1019.

RING THUNDER:

Rep. Patricia Douville-681, Rose Stenstrom-601.

ROSEBUD:

Richard Lunderman-432, Stephanie C. Sully-430.

ST. FRANCIS:

Rep. John Swift-441, Patsy Valandra-392.

SWIFT BEAR:

Rep. Delano Clairmont-656, Alvin Bettelyoun Sr.900.

UPPER CUT MEAT:

Philimon D. Two Eagle-686, Rep. Kathleen High Pipe-778.