Durango, Colo. • Members of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe have elected a new tribal chairwoman and two new council members.
The Durango Herald reports that Christine Baker-Sage won Friday’s runoff election by 63 votes to take the tribal chair seat over Shane Seibel. Clement Frost, the sitting chairman, had decided to retire.
Cheryl Frost and Cedric Chavez are the two newcomers to win seats on the tribe’s council, easily defeating their opponents.
The officials were elected to three-year terms on the board, which has seven members. The Southern Ute Indian Reservation in southwest Colorado covers more than 1,000 square miles.