Newly Elected Officials sworn in

The 2008 election was interesting to say the least; Richard Allen’s victory over Garrie Kills-a-Hundred for the FSST Trustee II by a vote of 106-94.
Cynthia Weddell ran against Jason Taylor for the position of FSST Vice-president position which ended in a tie of 100 votes with two spoiled ballots; the race for Trustee IV was between Sam Allen & Jean Paul Roy each candidate received 99 votes with four spoiled ballots.

Since the two positions of FSST Vice-President and the FSST Trustee IV positions ended in a tie vote according to the FSST Election Board by-laws, “If a tie vote results in the General Election, the winner will be decided by the toss of a coin. Whatever candidate’s name appears on the ballot first shall be designated ‘heads’ and the other candidate shall be designated ‘tails’ for the coin toss. Cynthia Weddell and Samuel Allen’s names were both listed on the ballot, and each coin toss made by Election Board member Deb Wakeman resulted in heads.

After the coin toss the FSST Election board informed the membership the swearing in was to take place Thursday, August 7th, 2008 except if any challenge is made to contest the results by any tribal member.

The election was challenged by candidate for FSST Trustee IV position Jean Paul Roy on Wednesday, August 6th, 2008.

According to the Chapter 6 ELECTION PROCEDURE/RULES; Section 16 CHALLENGES OF ELECTION RESULTS of the FSST Election Board bylaws ‘Any qualified voter, within three (3) days of posting the election results, may challenge the election results for a particular candidate by filing with the Chairman of the Election Board a sworn statement containing the ground for the challenge, together with substantiating evidence and a fifty dollar contest fee. A challenge to election results must allege some irregularity in the conduct of an election which may have affected the outcome of the election. Upon receipt of an election contest, the Board shall within three days of receiving the contest determine whether the grounds presented warrant a hearing. The contest shall be dismissed supports the allegation of an election irregularity that would have affected the outcome of the election. The Board determines that a hearing is warranted it shall immediately notify the challenged candidate and the contestor of the following: the hearing date; the right to be represented by legal council at their behalf; to subpoena and cross-examine witnesses; and to object to evidence introduced. After such hearing is conducted by the Board, with its assigned attorney acting as hearing officer, it shall issue a written order along with the reasons for upholding or dismissing the contest. The Board shall send a copy of its order by certified mail to the contested candidate and the contestor. The decision of the Board may be appealed to tribal court by filing an appeal to the Clerk of Courts within three (3) working days of a final decision of the Board. The tribal court shall hear and decide the matter within seven (7) working days of the date the appeal is filed with the court.’

The FSST Election Board did not find any substantiating evidence to support the allegation of an election irregularity that would have affected the outcome of the election.
The swearing in of Cynthia Weddell for the FSST Vice-president position, Richard Allen was sworn in for the Trustee II position and Samuel Allen for the FSST Trustee IV position and by the Honorable Judge Sherman Marshall on Thursday, August 14th, 2008 at 3:15 pm in the FSST Executive Council Chambers.

The FSST Tribal Offices were overflowing with the family of the newly elected officials and other well wishers whom wished to witness the swearing in ceremony.
This was definitely one of the most unprecedented FSST Elections in Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribal History.
- Amber Allen

Pictured above from L to R: Gordon Jones Jr. - FSST Treasurer, Samuel Allen -FSST Trustee IV, Richard Allen - FSST Trustee II, Joshua Weston - FSST President, Eloise Drapeau - FSST Secretary, Cyndi Weddell - FSST Vice-President, & Gina Williams - FSST Trustee III. Not pictured Christine Payer - FSST Trustee I