GRIC 2017 General Election's Official Results: Lewis reelected, Stone is next Lt. Governor

December 15, 2017

Thomas R. Throssell

Gila River Indian News

Over 2,000 Gila River Indian Community members headed to the polls on Nov. 7 to vote for the tribe’s highest elected offices, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Chief Judge, and Associate Judges.

According to GRIC Tribal Elections Program’s official election results, incumbent Gov. Lewis will retain his seat as the Community’s governor after receiving 1,116 votes, over 55 percent of total ballots cast overall. Running against Gov. Lewis was Lt. Gov. Monica Antone, who received 863 votes, which comes to a little over 43 percent of total ballots cast overall.

District 5 Council Representative Robert Stone won the seat of Lieutenant Governor after receiving 1,223 votes, over 61 percent of total ballots cast overall. Opposing candidate, David A. Anderson received 748 votes, over 37 percent of total ballots cast overall.

Donna Kisto-Jones was elected to the position of GRIC Chief Judge after receiving 1,043 votes, over 52 percent of total ballots cast overall. Opposing candidate Anthony James Hill received 909 votes, over 45 percent of total ballots cast overall.

Former GRIC Chief Judge Victor Antone, who won a large share of votes for the position of Associate Judge during the recent election did not take the seat, resigning his position. Due to Antone’s resignation, a new election for the one vacant Associate Judge position will be held within 60 days of Jan. 1. The following results are for informative purposes only and do not reflect who will be elected as an Associate Judge in the upcoming election.

Winning the most votes overall in the General Election for Associate Judge were Victor Antone, who received 1,143 votes, over 13 percent of total ballots cast overall. Dallas De Lowe received 1,076 votes, over 12 percent of total ballots cast overall. Janice F. Breckenridge received 1,012 votes, 11.63 percent of total ballots cast overall. Sheri L. Casa received 966 votes, 11.10 percent of total ballots cast overall. Lucille Antone-Morago received 920 votes, over 10 percent of total ballots cast overall.

According to the official results, a total of 2017 votes were cast during the election. The following is total ballots cast per district. District 1: 220, District 2: 113, District 3: 523, District 4: 357, District 5: 325, District 6: 267, District 7: 81, Absentee Ballots: 131.

The Community Council certified the election results for the GRIC 2017 General Election on Dec. 6.

For more information about the GRIC 2017 General Election, contact the Tribal Elections Program at (520) 562-9735.