"The Sitka Tribe of Alaska tribal council did not certify election results as planned on Saturday, which resulted in the cancellation of a planned swearing-in ceremony for new tribal council members.

The results of the tribe’s November 9th election were first scheduled for certification at the November 17th meeting of the Tribal Council, but an earlier recount led the item to be pulled from the agenda.

Certification was then set for Saturday, but the meeting failed to get a quorum. The members of the council were polled by phone, and the move to certify the results failed, according to STA attorney Jessica Perkins.

Tanya Bonorden was the top vote getter in the November 9th council election.

“We just assumed that it was not going to be certified that day," Bonorden said, "and so the ceremony that was after the parade, which was in the newspaper, was I guess not going to happen. We were kind of disappointed. I was, anyway. I can only speak for myself.”

Council chairman Woody Widmark says plans for future certification of the election results have not been made, but that it will likely take place before the end of the month. The new council terms are set to begin on December 1st.

All of this comes just before a special meeting of the Council on Wednesday, to consider the possible removal of one of its members."

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STA council fails to certify election, considers removing Paul (KCAW 11/22)