Local News

LONGTIME TRIBAL LEADER MEL TONASKET CHOSEN TO REPLACE MARCHAND ON COUNCIL

Mar 18, 2014

Omak District voters met Sunday, March 16 to fill a vacancy in the Colville Business Council, created when Benjamin E. Marchand, Jr., was expelled from the Tribes’ governing body.

Six candidates made a bid for the vacant seat. Chosen by attendees of the meeting was Mel Tonasket, who received 79 votes out of 172 cast. The vacant position he fills will expire in 2015. Tonasket will be sworn into office on Wednesday March 19 at 9:00 a.m. at the CBC chambers.

Tonasket, an Omak resident and former Chairman of the Tribe, is also the father of recently chosen Omak Councilman Richard Tonasket, who replaced Ernest “Sneena” Brooks III after Brooks resigned.