"Women out number men in bid for Six Nations Elected Chief job"

By Lynda Powless, Editor

Six Nations has 28 people vying for seats in the coming November elected band council elections and for the first time in history women out number men in seeking the top council spot as Chief-Elect.

With a race in every district Six Nations Election officer Steve Williams said candidates have until Oct., 28, 2016 to withdraw from the race or to be removed.

He said he does have to speak to a few candidates including those that were nominated but not present and one candidate is questioning whether another candidate lives on reserve.

You have to live in the District in which you are running according to the 1995 Six Nations Election Code being used for the November 2016 Six Nations Band Council Elections.

Running for Six Nations Elected Chief are;

Ava Hill(incumbent) Cynthia Jamieson, a former candidate in the 2001 elections and former elected chief Bill Montour.

In 2013 current Elected Chief Ava Hill took the spot in one of the narrowest wins in band council election history.

She won with just two votes over then incumbent Bill Montour.

In 2013 two districts saw four councillors returned by acclaimation.

Questions had been raised in the 2013 election including over name confusion when a second candidate, William Charles Monture Sr., threw his hat in the ring saying later voters told him they were confused by the two men running with similar names.

Incumbent chief William K Montour was seeking re-election. The election officer at the time refused to allow Charles Monture Sr., to use his Mohawk Name.

In 2013 the total number of people who votes for an elected chief was 1052.

Out of the 25 councillor candidates running 10 are women.

Seeking election are: Chief-Elect candidates - three running Gail Ava hill (Incumbent), Cynthia Lee Jamieson, William Kenneth Montour. District One has six candidates: Audrey Lloy Powless-Bomberry, Catherine Joanne Bomberry, David Allan Hill (Incumbent), Joseph Randall Martin, Lewis Basil Staats (Incumbent), Hope Claudine VanEvery. District 2 has 5 candidates: Terry Allan General (Incumbent), Carl Chancey Hill (Incumbent), Vicki Lee Martin, Barbara Gail Miller, Lewis Craig Staats. District 3 has four candidates: Ross John Johnson, Roger Kevin Jonathan (Incumbent), Charles Wayne Martin, Sherri-Lyn Hill-Pierce (Incumbent). District 4 has four candidates:Wray E. Maracle (Incumbent), Rheva Helen Miller (Incumbent), Mark H. Staats, Alaina Marie VanEvery. District 5 has three candidates Bob (R.E.) Johnson (Incumbent), Hazel Margret Johnson (Incumbent), Evan N. Thomas. District 6 has three candidates: Lynn Travis Bomberry, Mark Bennett. Hill (Incumbent), Melba Iris Thomas (Incumbent)

In the 2013 elections there were 20,520 eligible voters and 1,057 cast a ballot resulting in a voter turnout of just over five per cent.

At the same time the Six Nations Community Trust is holding elections for three resident trustees who will serve six year terms.

Seven people are running for the seven cvacancies including two incumbents.

Running are: Catherine Joanne Bomberry, Julie Ann Hill, Roger K. Jonathan, Darryl Kevin Martin (Bubba) (Incumbent), Sharon Joanne Martin, Tammy colette Martin (Incumbent) and Shelby Jean White.

Trustees are paid an honoraria.