HOULTON, Maine — The list of candidates for tribal chief, tribal representative and tribal council have been announced. The election will be held Saturday, April 26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the HBMI Community Center, located at 568 Foxcroft Road.
Incumbent Chief Clarissa E. Sabattis is running unopposed for a four-year term as tribal chief. Sabattis has served as the Maliseet Chief since 2017. She is just the fifth chief in the tribe’s 45-year history as a federally-recognized tribe. On Oct. 10, 1980, the federal government officially classified the Houlton Band of Maliseets as a Native American tribe.
Previous chiefs were Brenda Commander, Clair Sabattis (Clarissa’s father), Jim Tomah and Terry Polchies.
There are three seats open for four-year terms on the tribal council, with eight individuals stepping forward to be candidates. The candidates, in alphabetical order, are: Kristin Anderson (Hardy), Beth Aucoin, Michelle Barrows, Danya Boyce, Ashley Foster-Kinney, Darcy Gentle, Allison Sabattis and Crystal Tucker. Tucker and Aucoin are incumbents seeking re-election.
One individual, Brian Reynolds, has expressed interest in serving as the tribal representative. The role of tribal representative in the Maine State Legislature is a non-voting position, though the representative can introduce and sponsor legislation.
Who is qualified to vote?
Any enrolled member of the Tribe who is 18 years of age or older and resides within the United States is eligible to vote. Prisoners incarcerated shall not be eligible to vote. Persons on parole shall not be deemed prisoners.
Any elector duly qualified to vote under Section 301 of the Tribal Election Ordinance, unable to vote in person may request an absentee ballot by a written request to Honest Ballot that he/she expects to be absent from Houlton, Maine on the day of the election, who is the resident of another state, or who is physically incapacitated so as to be unable to go to the polling place, or who is a member of the United States Armed Forces stationed away from Houlton, Maine, may vote by absentee ballot.
All voted absentee ballots must be received by close of business (4:30 p.m.) on Friday, April 25 — the day prior to the election.
