"Election '98 underway with largest slate of candidates"

Six Nations Band Council elections are underway with 41 candidates jockeying for chief and councillors' jobs in what may be the biggest field of candidates ever launched in Six Nations elections history.

The field is the largest, electoral officer Bob Johnson has seen. "I don't think there has ever been that many candidates," he said Saturday while nominees milled about the Six Nations Community Bingo Hall.

In the October 1995 elections 30 candidates nominated for the first election under under "Six Nations Election Code."

Six candidates, including two women, are running for band council chief and there's an election in every district.

Running for Band Council Chief are incumbent, Wellington Staats, former councillors, Melba Thomas, Lillian G. Montour and Roger K. Jonathan, well known local businessman Reg Hill and William (Bill) Hill. Two councillors are elected for each of the community's six districts.

In District One are: incumbents David A. Hill and David (Pee Wee) Green, also running are David Hall, Wayne Johns, Mary Powless, Stanley (Tony) VanEvery, Donald (Donnie) Whitlow and Rodger C.

In District Two: Incumbents Terry Allan General, Morley Sherwood Lickers and new comers Scott (Wray) Anderson, Carl C. Hill and Michael Montour.

In District Three: Incumbents Wendy Johnson-Martin and Les Sowden and former councillor Nina K. Burnham and newcomer local teacher Terrylynn Brant.

In District Four, the largest slate of candidates is running with eight people vying for two seats: Incumbent Glenda Porter, also running is Ron Curley, former councillor Deborah (Bobbi) Styres, Alton VanEvery, Edward (Ted) Martin and Kevin B. Isaacs, Terence (Tabby) Jamieson, Melvin Edward Styres.

In District Five its a five person race with: Incumbents George A. Montour and John W. Peters, former band council chief Steve Williams, and newcomers Robin Fraser, Lesley D. Davis and Delbert (Delby) Powless.

District Six is heating up with a five way race including Incumbents Brian P. (Bryan) Hill and Irwin (Ervin) Harris, former councillor Kenneth R. Hill and Christopher B. Bomberry and Barbara Harris.

The election is slated for November 14 at the Six Nations Community Bingo Hall on Pauline Johnson road. The nominees have until Oct. 30 to decline.

For the next seven days, elections officer Bob Johnson said his office will be checking to make sure all the nominees meet the required criteria.

The Six Nations Band Council Chief earns a salary of about $55,000 a year. Councillors have not earned salaries in the past (however one councillor was placed on a $600 a week salary in an experiment, to sit as the Health portfolio holder this past term) instead they earn honorariums per meeting they attend and are paid for out of town travel.

Band Council Chief - A total of 1,244 ballots were cast out of a possible 13,906 eligible voters, including 77 people who lives off reserve coming home to vote in the 1995 elections. Veteran politicians Wellington Staats led the polls with 378 votes, followed closely by Steven Williams with 285 votes and Reg Hill with 244 votes. The total vote number almost doubled the 1993 election when 700 people voted. The turn-out represented less than nine percent of the total number of eligible voters at Six Nations.

District One - 382 ballots were cast. Three candidates ran. David "Pee Wee" Green led the polls with 170 votes.

District Two - another three man race saw 230 ballots cast, Morley Lickers led the polls with 104 votes.

District Three - Three people ran with a total of 323 ballots cast. Les Sowden led the polls with 129 votes.

District Four - had 377 ballots cast amid controversy when three men were dropped from the polls as the polls opened. Kevin Isaacs (who later appealed the removal. A by-election was held) Larry Green and Patrick Porter were pulled from the ballots leaving three people to battle for 377 ballots. Ted Martin received the highest number of votes at 160 followed by Lillian Montour at 118. Both Martin and Montour would lose their seats in a by-election that saw Glenda Porter and Stephen Bomberry top the polls.

District Five - Was the only district to be hit with a acclamation with John Peters and George Montour acclaimed.

District Six - there were 205 ballots cast with Ervin Harris leading the polls with just 94 votes.

The Six Nations Community Bingo Hall was buzzing with activity Saturday when 41 candidates showed up to be nominated in the 51st general elections and second election to be held under Six Nations "Custom" Election Code.

Donny Whitlow takes a break from filling out forms for a police check to smile the first of many smiles he'll be giving out over the next two weeks. Whitlow is seeking a seat in District One against veteran Dave "PeeWee" Green, councillor Dave Hill and newcomers Mary Powless, Rodger Hill, Stanley VanEvery and Dave Johns.

Former Band Councillor Melba Thomas has thrown her hat into the ring and is running for Band Council Chief. Thomas has been out of politics since the last election and has been heading up a social development and counselling program in the schools.

(Scott) Wray Anderson entered the race Saturday. He is looking for a first time seat in District Two and competing against Morley Lickers, Terry General, Michael Montour and Carl Hill.

Well known local businessman Reg Hill is taking a second shot at the Band Council Chief's seat. He was nominated in Saturday's nominations Hill surprised everyone when the newcomer closely tagged behind former chief Steve Williams (who is also seeking re-election but as a councillor). Seeking a second term is District Three Councillor Les Sowden.

Kevin Isaacs is taking another shot at election. Isaacs was pulled from ballots in 1995, appealed the decision and won a by-election. He was defeated in the by-election race by Stephen Bomberry and Glenda Porter.

A newcomer to the race, teacher Terrylyn Brant, who serves on a number of local committees is facing off against Les Sowden, Wendy Johnson-Martin and former councillors Nina Burnham for seats in District Three.