Former tribal chairman Alvin Windy Boy Sr. has won the council seat vacated when council member John "Chance" Houle defeated Windy Boy in the general election.
A special election was held Friday at Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation to fill Houle's vacant seat on the council.
Houle had two years remaining on his term when he ran for chairman.
Windy Boy had been chairman for four years and was a council member for 12 years prior to that.
Windy Boy beat his closest opponent, Ricky Morsette, by only 10 votes, 139-129.
Windy Boy could not be reached for comment today.
Tim Koop received 118 votes, and Harlan Gopher Baker received 117. Russell Standing Rock got 103, Debbie St. Pierre got 79, and Gilbert Belgarde got 28. Melvin Morsette Jr. received 25 votes, Manuel Duran Jr. received 19 and Thomas Roasting Stick Sr. had 14.
Houle defeated Windy Boy 727-515 in the general election on a platform of change and accountability.
He has made changes since being elected Nov. 2, including laying off five staff members and cutting back the council's budget for travel and utilities.
