Knight

Knight-Frank sworn in for 4th term as chair

Nov 3, 2001

JUDY KNIGHT-FRANK takes the oath of office for a fourth term as chair of the Ute Mountain Utes on Friday morning in Towaoc. Administering the oath is Priscilla Bancroft, acting superintendent of the Ute Mountain chapter of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

By Jim Mimiaga
Journal Staff Writer

Delivering a message of solidarity and cooperative leadership, Judy Knight-Frank was sworn in as tribal chief for the Ute Mountain tribe during a packed ceremony in Towaoc Friday.

"If we work together, then we will grow together," Knight-Frank said. "If we try and pull in separate directions, then we will go nowhere."

A divisive election earned Knight-Frank a one-vote victory over incumbent chairman Ernest House on Oct. 12, the closest race in Ute history. A recount followed, and the 239-238 ballot results were upheld by the election committee soon after.

This is Knight-Frank’s fourth term as tribal chair.

She ran on a platform of accountability of casino revenues, a fairer tribal court system and more scrutiny of long-term development plans that involve a hotel and golf course. To help preserve Ute culture, she supports building a cultural museum in Towaoc.

Knight-Frank credited the Ute reservation community in White Mesa, Utah, for supporting her during the election, noting "that those residents deserve the same benefits as all tribal members."

Following the tribe’s constitution is her priority, otherwise "we risk losing our self-governance," she said, urging "young and old" to become more involved in the political process.

"My door is open — youth should come by and ask how they can help," she said.

Three elected council members also were sworn in. Newcomer Harold Cuthair beat incumbent Carl Knight by eight votes.

"I thank God for this day and will do my best to fulfill my responsibilities on council," Cuthair said. Selwyn Whiteskunk and Eddie Dutchie Jr. were both re-elected by wide margins. All terms are for three years.

Speaking in Ute and then English, Ute Mountain cultural leader Terry Knight urged the community to heal differences that festered during the tense election.

"It’s over, let’s go ahead now," he said. "It’s a form of government that is not our traditional way, so that causes problems and feelings get hurt because people do not know how to deal with it."

Ute elders predicted these bad times, Knight said, referring to recent terrorist attacks that killed thousands of Americans. "Now it is up to all of us to work together in this new world."

Representatives of the Southern Utes and the Jicarilla-Apache tribe in New Mexico were present to show support.

Leonard Burch, chairman of the Southern Ute tribe, said tribes must work collectively to influence Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court on tribal sovereignty issues.

"All tribes must stand together to influence Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court so that our way of life, our land, and our sovereignty are protected," Burch said.