Marjorie D. Barry and Marvin J. Pinnecoose have won seats on the Southern Ute Tribal Council after the Nov. 4 election. The vote count was certified Monday, according to SUIT Communications.

Five candidates were vying for two open seats on Tribal Council. In addition to Barry and Pinnecoose, the other candidates running for election included Conrad Thompson, Matthew J. Box and Edward Burch Box III.

Barry and Pinnecoose could not be reached for comment.

Barry has been serving as a council member for the last two years and looks to improve health care and tribal substance use programs, water rights and conservation, and maintaining relationships with tribal elders for her second term, according to a statement made to The Southern Ute Drum.

“Working in tribal government these many years and my term on tribal council has shown me how slowly the wheels of progress turn,” she wrote in her statement. “The wheels must turn faster.”

Incoming tribal council member Pinnecoose worked for 19 years with Nike as a corporate liaison of Native American projects and plans to bring his workplace mindset to his position on the council, according to the Drum.

“An efficient workplace can do more with less people, and it invites a healthy, happy environment where minds can thrive,” he wrote in his statement. “This mindset and my passion for performance is what I want to bring while serving on OUR Southern Ute Tribal Council.”

Both candidates will be sworn in on Dec. 6.

molsen@durangoherald.com