PORT ANGELES — Frances Charles will remain chairwoman of the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe after Saturday’s election.
Charles garnered 113 votes — or 57.07 percent — to the closest runnerup, Russell Hepfer, who had 68 votes — or 34.34 percent.
Also in the election was Dennis Sullivan with 11 votes — 5.56 percent — Joe Turrey with four votes — 2.02 percent — and Philip Charles Jr. with two votes — 1.01 percent.
“I want to thank our community, our elders and veterans for their continued support,” Charles said.
“We have a lot of challenges ahead of us, a lot of goals and a lot of projects — including the Elwha River dam removal project, the Tse-whit-zen site and the Rayonier site.
“We will continue to work with local governments and work on the educational component of each of them.
“We have a lot of goals for the youth and a lot of activities coming up.”
Two Tribal Council positions were also up for election.
Incumbent Verna Henderson was ousted from her position on the council with another incumbent, Russell Hepfer, with 97 votes — 21.37 percent — and Joe Turrey, with 87 votes — 19.16 percent — taking the positions.
Others who were vying for the positions were Steve Robideau with 75 votes — 16.52 percent — Ed Johnson with 72 votes — 15.86 percent — Henderson with 69 votes — 15.2 percent — Arlene Wheeler with 43 votes — 9.47 percent and Linda Wiekman with 11 votes — 2.42 percent.
“I am really thankful to Verna for all of her work and dedication to the community,” Charles said.
“And I am thankful to Joe for his commitment — he’s been on the Tribal Council before.”
There are five total council positions, and two were up for election.
The two people with the most votes take the positions in an at-large election, Charles said.
“We want to really encourage our youth and any educational aspects of our community,” Charles said.
“We have been really concerned with the high dropout rates.”
She said that among other things she and the council would be looking forward to the opening of the veterans clinic and the tribal canoe journey in July — this year’s journey is to Duncan.
“We are really looking forward to that,” she said.
“We’ll be bringing in a lot of resources to Port Angeles when we have the stop here.”
