Cleaves, Soctomah win tribal elections

Reuben "Clayton" Cleaves was elected the new Passamaquoddy governor at Sipayik, and Madonna Soctomah was chosen as tribal representative in the state legislature, during tribal elections held on September 7 and 8.
Cleaves received 217 votes for governor, besting Hilda Lewis, who received 123 votes. He will be replacing Rick Phillips-Doyle, who did not seek reelection for the four-year position.
In the Pleasant Point election on September 7, Soctomah received 223 votes for tribal representative, with Fred Moore III receiving 107. Soctomah also won in the September 8 election at Indian Township, receiving 247 votes to 112 for Fred Moore. Both have previously served as tribal representatives. Soctomah will be taking over from her brother, Donald Soctomah of Indian Township. The four-year position alternates between Pleasant Point and Indian Township.
For lieutenant governor, also a four-year position, Kenneth Poynter received 190 votes to defeat the incumbent lieutenant governor, Thomas Lewey, who received 146 votes.
Four nominated candidates and one write-in candidate ran for the three open four-year terms on the Sipayik Tribal Council. The three winners are incumbent Alberta "Birda" Downing, who received 217 votes, Francis "Frankie" Cleaves, who garnered 186 votes, and write-in candidate Newell Lewey, who received 151 votes. Other candidates were Evelyn Lewey, 149 votes, and Maxwell "Chick" Barnes, 106 votes. Two councillors, Edward Bassett and Denise Altvater, did not seek reelection.
The race for school board resulted in a tie, with incumbent Cyril Francis and Nicole "Nikki" Dana both receiving 162 votes for the three-year position. A recount is expected to be held on September 13, and if the vote is still tied a special election will be held for the seat.
Those elected will take office on October 1.
A total of 346 tribal members cast ballots, for a voter turnout of 55%.

Socobasin elected governor
In the Indian Township election, the lieutenant governor, Joseph Socobasin, defeated the incumbent governor, William Nicholas, by a vote of 204 to 166. Socobasin had previously won the primary election against Richard Sabattus.
For lieutenant governor, Clayton Sockabasin won over Jeannette Parker, receiving 202 votes to Parker's 167. The two had previously been the top vote-getters in the August 25 primary election.
For tribal council, 13 candidates were running. The winners were Leslie Nicholas with 131 votes, Nipawset Sabattus with 119 and Gerald Stevens with 111. Aaron Dana was elected to the school board with 200 votes, defeating Tne Downing.