By Monica Wepking, Editor The Yankton Sioux Tribe (YST) held their General Election on Thursday, September 3, 2009 and just like the primary election, where disclosed felons were voted off the ballot, another undisclosed felon, John Stone, lost his bid for re-election for Vice Chairman. Records through the South Dakota Unified Judicial System show Stone pleading guilty to a felony in 1995. He did not disclose this information to the Election Board, who was to determine "good standing" in the Tribe prior to the Primary Election, but this information surfaced soon enough to get out to the voters in the General Election. "It's obvious the people made their statement by voting out another felon (election results in this article have not been certified by the Election Board). It should be easier now to get "good standing" clarified. Stone was an undisclosed felon. We didn't find out about this till after the first list of candidates for the Primary Ballot was posted," said former Election Board Secretary Sharon Drapeau. There was an attempt to contact John Stone, but his voice mailbox was full and the Tribal office was closed on Friday, September 4, 2009. Re-elected YST Chairman Robert Cournoyer said about the election, "That was a close one!" Cournoyer defeated Galen Drapeau Jr. 515 votes to 460. He also stated, "I don't think John Stone lost because of the felony - "good standing" issue. I think Karen (Tuttle) Archambeau worked hard for the victory. Archambeau defeated incumbent John Stone 516 votes to 450. Due to incumbent Frances Hart not seeking re-election, Rachel E. Bernie will be the new secretary. She defeated Lois "Pokey" Weddell II with 650 votes to 330. Incumbent Treasurer Leo O'Connor defeated Jean Archambeau with 728 votes to 252. Newly elected to the Business and Claims (B & C) Committee was top vote getter Myron (Fish) Turner with 592 votes and Baptiste A. Cournoyer with 558 votes. Re-elected were Jody Allen Zephier with 560 votes, Dennis Rucker with 478 votes and Greg Zephier Jr. with 461 votes. Those that won the Primary Election but lost their bid for the B & C were Guy Cooke Sr. (450), Jason Cooke (449), Galen Patterson Sr. (378), Faith Spotted Eagle (343) and Basil Heth who lost his re-election bid with 406 votes. Also off the B & C is Gary Drapeau who lost in the Primary Election. "With new faces on the B & C we have a chance as a Tribe to move forward. I'll work with who ever is in there," said Cournoyer. The YST inauguration ceremony is scheduled for September 30, 2009 at the Wagner Armory.