List of official Rocky Boy candidates not completed

The list of candidates for a May 21 election to fill the top office at Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation is still waiting to be certified, the Chippewa Cree attorney general said in an email to the Havre Daily News this morning.

"The (Chippewa Cree) Election Board intends to meet this afternoon to finalize the certified list," Attorney General LeAnn Montes said in the email.

Thursday was the deadline for people to file as candidates for the special election, being held to fill the spot vacated when the council removed the chair March 25.

The other council members removed Ken Blatt St. Marks, who was elected last fall, from office due to "to neglect of duty and gross misconduct," they said in a press release following their action.

St. Marks has said it was due to his investigating, and cooperating with federal investigators about, alleged misuse of federal money and other misconduct by tribal officials.

Montes said that, once the Election Board finishes certifying the qualified candidates and drafts a notice of the candidates and forwards that to her office, she will provide it to the Havre Daily News.