Rena Newell, who has been serving as the Passamaquoddy tribal representative in the Maine Legislature, has been elected the new tribal chief at Sipayik. Newell received 229 votes in the September 8 general election, defeating the incumbent chief, Elizabeth "Maggie" Dana, who garnered 120 votes. She will take office on Saturday, October 1, with a swearing-in ceremony, to which all are invited, scheduled for 10 a.m. at the tribal administration building.
      During her four-year term in the legislature, Newell was noted for her advocacy to improve the drinking water at Sipayik, with a bill she sponsored that will allow the tribe to tap into a groundwater aquifer in Perry without needing state approval being signed into law following some contentious debate. Also, she co-sponsored and advocated for the passage of the tribal sovereignty bill that ended up stalling in the legislature this year.
      One of the issues for tribal members at Sipayik has been a perceived lack of transparency and accountability for how millions of dollars in federal COVID relief funds were spent by the tribal government during the first year of the pandemic. The tribal government's payroll expenditures more than doubled, ballooning from $4.7 million in 2019 to $11.4 million in 2020, and the exorbitant pay increases are the subject of an investigation by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Inspector General. Other issues recently have included the loss of the Sipayik ambulance service and concerns involving the health center and the lack of a budget approved by the tribal council for a number of years.
      Following the election, chief-elect Newell stated, "To serve the Sipayik community is a great honor that I accept with humility and a pledge to both honor all our ancestors and to make decisions with future generations of Passamaquoddy people in mind. I also thank Chief Dana, Vice Chief [Ernest] Neptune and all the leaders who served our community during this recent period. Their service is deeply appreciated."
      During her campaign, Newell highlighted the importance of greater transparency within the tribal government. "I will work towards identifying and implementing methods of communication to improve transparency of tribal government operations, so to offer a better understanding in gauging where we are today, to move towards achieving where we want to be," she wrote in her campaign letter. "Let us be mindful of our collective responsibility as a nation to provide a sustainable future for the next generations. Together, we can."
      Also in her campaign letter, Newell wrote, "As our ability to govern ourselves is met with consistent attempts to diminish our inherent right to do so, I ask each of you to support the efforts to strengthen the relationship between the citizens of Sipayik and its governing administration. For the strength and resilience of our people has come from the hard work, dedication and sacrifices of those that have gone on before us. Let us honor them through our own actions in working together to identify our goals, address our concerns and to celebrate our successes."
      Newell recently received two awards that she accepted on behalf of the tribe, a Legislative Leadership Award for work for the water quality bill from Defend Our Health and a 2022 Public Service for the Environment Award from the Maine chapter of the Sierra Club. Before serving as tribal representative, she worked for the tribal government in the finance office and as the tribal education director, for a total of 27 years.
      Along with the election of a new chief, Amkuwiposohehes "Pos" Bassett, who has been serving on the tribal council, was elected the new vice chief, receiving 183 votes, defeating Marla Dana, a former tribal chief, who garnered 163. Bassett will be replacing Ernest Neptune, who had run in the August 30 primary election for the position of chief but lost to Newell in a close race.

Raises approved for chief, vice chief
      The new chief and vice chief will be seeing significant increases in their salaries. At a meeting on September 1, the tribal council approved increasing the chief's salary by 37%, from $83,200 to $114,000, and the vice chief's salary by 50%, from $62,400 to $93,600. Voting for the raises were councillors Dillon Francis, Melissa Francis, Hilda Lewis, and Vice Chief Ernest Neptune, with Ryan Currier opposed and Pos Bassett and Denise Altvater not present for the vote.

Other election results
      For Passamaquoddy representative to the legislature, Aaron Dana of Indian Township was elected, receiving 280 votes at Sipayik and 182 at Indian Township, for a total of 462 votes. Anthony "Mike" Best I received 58 votes at Sipayik and 127 at Indian Township, for a total of 185.
      For the Sipayik tribal council, Shirley Mitchell, with 234 votes, incumbent Melissa Francis, with 227, and Cyrilla Francis, with 182 votes, were elected. Also running were Ann Mitchell, who garnered 141 votes, and Eric S.E. Francis, who trailed with 92. Corinna Francis withdrew from the race before the election. Shirley Mitchell and Cyrilla Francis will replace Denise Altvater and Pos Bassett on the council.
      For the school board, incumbent Alberta "Birda" Newell received 274 votes. The terms for chief, vice chief and tribal council are for four years, while the school board seat is for three years.
      A total of 357 tribal members cast ballots at Sipayik, for a voter turnout of 51%.
      In the tribal general election at Motahkmikuk or Indian Township, incumbent Chief William Nicholas, who was unopposed, was reelected to his fourth four-year term with 283 votes. For vice chief, Joseph M. Socobasin, who has been serving on the tribal council, received 230 votes, defeating incumbent Vice Chief Darrell Newell, who garnered 101.
      For the three open seats on the tribal council, incumbent Alexander Nicholas received 145 votes, Wade Lola 125 and Roger Socobasin 120. Also running were: Russell Lola, 110 votes; Bridgid Neptune, 90 votes; incumbent Elizabeth Neptune, 74; incumbent Sonja Dana, 70; Gerald Stevens, 62; Dale Newell II, 48; Linda Steeves, 28; Alberta White, 17; Victoria Boston, 14; and Dean Francis, 5. For school board, Mark Stevens I, who was unopposed, received 186 votes for the three-year term.
      A total of 340 voters cast ballots in the Indian Township election.