Rosebud tribal election likely will draw high turnout

By Jomay Steen, Journal Staff Writer | Monday, October 03, 2005

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Rosebud Sioux Tribe President Charles Colombe, 67, finished second behind challenger Rodney Bordeaux, 53, in a September primary. Colombe is running for his second term as president.

The presidential race is part of a broader tribal election that officials said could attract a high voter turnout.

Patricia Jones, RST elections board chairperson, said that because the tribe will decide upon its president, vice president and all tribal council representatives, the election could bring as many as 50 percent of the tribe's eligible voters into the voting booths.

"I'd say about half of the registered voters will turn out for the election," Jones said.

Each candidate runs for a two-year term of office.

Polls will open at 8 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on Oct. 27 on Rosebud Indian Reservation, according to Jones.

For two years, Colombe said, he has been leading the 24,000 people on Rosebud to enhance law enforcement and courts, better health issues and develop a working economy that would lower the tribe's 80 percent unemployment rate.

"Addressing unemployment and job creation has been my No. 1 priority as president," Colombe said.

Colombe said he has brought in $2.2 million in grants from Indian Health Services and U.S. Health and Human Services Department to build a solid waste transfer station and aid in landfill cleanup, initiated reviews of tribal courts, police officers and criminal-investigating units, and helped create a housing factory of timber-log homes.

"We have a couple of projects on the drawing board for wind energy," he said.

Colombe said his experience in private business has given him great ability in helping the tribe. His political experience has been helpful, too.

Colombe served as council representative of the Antelope District for eight years. He worked as chairman of the land and natural-resources committee, education committee, housing authority and was managing director of the natural-resources department.

He also managed the Rosebud Casino for five years, wanting to expand that venture to provide an economical boon for the tribe.

"Our best days are ahead of us," Colombe said.

Presidential challenger Rodney Bordeaux grew up on the Rosebud reservation and wants to find solutions to the struggles his people face on a daily basis.

It is one of the reasons why the RST council representative decided to run for office. "I always wanted to work for my people since early on," Bordeaux said.

Bordeaux is in the midst of visiting the tribe's 22 communities on the reservation.

He attended Todd County schools, then left the reservation to attend Augustana College in Sioux Falls, where he graduated with a political-science degree in 1975. Bordeaux received his master's degree from Oglala Lakota College. He worked in the education field for 20 years and served 12 years as a council representative for Rosebud's District 10.

"It's my fifth term on council," he said.

Bordeaux is chairman of the council's education committee and serves on the economic and budget/finance committees. Bordeaux also serves as secretary for the Tribal Land Enterprise and represents Rosebud on the board of the Pierre Indian Learning Center in Pierre.

In the coming weeks, Bordeaux said, he would visit people throughout the reservation to talk about the major issues of health care for youth, the elderly and veterans. He wants to see more industry and job growth on the reservation.

He also campaigns for a more open government.

"My focus is bringing integrity and honesty back to tribal government," Bordeaux said.

Unofficial results of the RST primary are:

President — Rodney Bordeaux, 747; Charles Colombe, 687; William "Willie" Kindle, 484; Norman Wilson, 274; Glen Yellow Eagle, 253; Eric Nixon, 104; Carl Waln, 102; and O.J. Semans, 92.

Vice president — Webster Two Hawk Sr., 708; Sherman Wright, 469; Louis "Wayne" Boyd Sr., 467; Eddie Farmer, 434; Iver Crow Eagle Jr., 280; Seth Big Crow Sr., 242; Calvin Iron Shell Sr., 195.

District 1— Charlie Long Crow, 57; Darrell "Diz" Herman, 56; Wayne Ducheneaux, 34; Vonna Lopez, 10; and Roger Milk, 10.

District 2 — Steve DeNoyer Jr., 77; Isabelle Wright, 14; and Gerald Night Pipe, 26.

District 3 — Scott Herman, 233; Robert Moore, 179; Jo Colombe, 163; Rose Cordier, 161; Cyril "Whitey" Scott, 146; Shirley (Swan) Medearis, 96; Dorothy Marshall, 70; Heather Burnette, 151; Vernon "Ike" Schmidt, 130; Hubert Dillon, 95; Shawn Bordeaux, 94; Earl Bordeaux Jr., 79; Kenneth Swalley, 79; Totes Waln, 75; Paul Valandra, 74; Joe Cephus Prue, 70; John Whiting, 62; Ben White Horse, 49; James Leader Charge, 46; and Dennis Youngman, 45.

District 4 — Norman Running Sr., 44; Darrell Marcus, 31; Valerie Crazy Bull, 31; Patricia "Patti" Douville, 19; Calvin Jones Jr., 3;.

District 5 — Patsy Valandra, 130; Michael Boltz, 114; James Henry Sr., 90; John "J.C." Arcoren, 79; Richard "Rick" Young, 78; Sharon Swift, 77; Dean Yellow Hawk, 69; Verdell Metcalf, 58; James Shaw Sr., 51; Roy Spotted War Bonnet, 35; Lino Spotted Elk Sr., 33; Wanda Brave McCauley, 32; Darleen Black Spotted Horse, 32; David Whiting Sr., 27; Tony Black Spotted Horse, 24; Joe Ford, 22; and Don Luxon, 6.

District 6 — Mike Crow Eagle Sr., 58; Darlene Kills In Water/Metcalf, 57; Ned Metcalf, 57; and Berlene Walking Eagle, 33;.

District 7 — Marion Young-One Star, 51; Barbara McCloskey-Duysak, 22; Kim (Mousseaux) Beck, 15; Homer Whirlwind Soldier, 14; Donny Little Thunder, 8; Alfred Bone Shirt, 3; and Terry Fool Bull Sr., 1.

District 8 — Anthony Castaway, 44; Robert Becker, 21; Eva Iyotte, 18; Delano Clairmont, 13; Keli Herman, 11; and Lester Krogman, 6.

District 9 — Robert Shot With Two Arrows, 74; Brian Dillon, 39; Timothy Cournoyer Sr., 32; Lynda Douville, 31; Sheila Running Horse/Young, 18; and Victor Young, 17.

District 10 — Stephanie Sully, 175; Fern Bordeaux-Boltz, 161; Lenard Wright, 147; Ken LaDeaux, 136; William "Bebe" Long III, 117; Floyd Reynolds, 87; Ron "Jock" Gassman, 87; Marie Clairmont, 70; Pete Reynolds, 43; Irvin E. Young Sr., 41; Brock Crow Eagle, 32; and Lucinda Shields-Ellert, 19.

District 11 — Russell Eagle Bear, 49; Gerald Eagle Bear, 27; Christine Dunham, 26; and Douglas Moran, 11.

District 12 — Lewis Good Voice, 34; Charlene Arrow, 29; Alvin Bear Heels, 29; Fremont Fallis, 14; and Glenn Quick Bear, 10.

District 13 — William Bearshield, 46; Byron "Barnie" Andrews, 39; and Gary White Pipe, 15.

Contact Jomay Steen at 394-8418 or jomay.steen@rapidcityjournal.com.