Grand Traverse Band Announces Primary Election Results

Three seats are up for grabs on the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB) tribal council, the leadership body that governs the tribe and its 4,000-plus members. A primary election held Tuesday saw 16 candidates contending for those seats, with the top six vote-getters advancing to a general election scheduled for next month. The candidates still in the mix include a former GTB tribal chairman and a current council member seeking re-election, among others.

According to unofficial election results published by the tribe, the top six vote-getters were Francis Carew (132 votes), Ryan Memberto (131 votes), David Arroyo (128 votes), David Wonegeshik (111 votes), Brian Napont (107 votes), and Noondin Amanda-Jo McSauby Jones (105 votes). Barring any challenges, these election results will be certified by the end of the day next Thursday, April 9.

Arroyo previously served as GTB tribal chairman from 2020 to 2024, and had been a member of the tribal council for more than 15 years prior to his term at the helm. He left office in 2024 after opting not to seek re-election to the council.

Napont, meanwhile, is a current member of the council. He ran for tribal chairman in 2024, but lost to current GTB Chairwoman Sandra Witherspoon, 235 votes to 176. Napont was mid-way through a council term at the time, and retained his seat despite losing the bid for chairman.

Napont is the only councilor with an expiring seat – the others being Tina Frankenberger and Vice Chairwoman Jane Rohl – who is still in contention. Frankenberger and Rohl both sought re-election, but failed to garner enough votes to proceed to the primary election. Rohl received 102 votes, while Frankenberger got 63.

The GTB council is made up of a chairperson and six councilors, all of whom serve four-year terms. In addition to Witherspoon, councilors Angelina Raphael, Anna Miller, and Donna Swallows won terms in 2024 and still have two years left to serve. The three winners of the May 5 general election will serve until 2030.