Newcomers, Brian Porter win Swinomish Senate seats

Greg Edwards and Bruce James have always been close.

It was fitting, then, that the former La Conner High teammates would see their race for a Swinomish Tribal Senate seat decided by a razor thin margin.

Edwards edged James 151-146 in balloting Saturday at the Swinomish Tribal Community Social Services.

Edwards and James were vying to succeed three-term incumbent Kevin Paul, who had placed third in the tribe’s January primary election.

As one would expect, the Edwards-James race was strictly a positive campaign, including their post-election comments.

After votes were tallied, James immediately congratulated Edwards along with Tandy “Wolf” Wilbur and Brian Porter, each of whom also won.

“I want to thank my friends, family, and everyone who stepped up to support me in my first run for the senate,” James said in social media post Saturday afternoon.

Edwards responded in kind.

“Keep that fire lit, my brother,” he said to James, “and I hope to be sitting at the table with you in the near future.”

Edwards vowed to “be a humble servant who will honor, serve, and represent our Swinomish Tribal Community with dignity and grace.”

Wilbur unseated incumbent vice-chair Joe Williams 161-136. Williams had won a five-year senate term in 2016 and recently had been in preliminary discussions with La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes for development of a joint Town-Tribal Community youth sports complex.

He, too, issued a gracious concession statement, thanking tribal voters for having sent him to the senate five years ago.

“It has been the honor of a lifetime,” Williams said. “I will continue to serve my community wherever and whenever possible. I would like to wish the best of luck to the Swinomish Senate, especially the new senators.”

Wilbur, a La Conner High alum who played basketball at Oklahoma City University, offered praise to the tribal election committee for being able to conduct balloting during a heavy Saturday morning snowstorm.

“I look forward to the challenges ahead and working on behalf of the people,” said Wilbur, who has prior senate experience. “I wish everyone blessings and I am so thankful for this opportunity.”

Porter, who previously served as senate vice-chair, outpolled challenger Dave Johnston 229-66.

Porter has advocated upgrading aging tribal infrastructure as part of continued economic development on the reservation. He has also sought to expand elder care and provide career opportunities for Swinomish college graduates.

Johnston emphasized the need to bolster childhood nutrition, provide summer education programs covering a broad-based curriculum and better utilize technology for polling and quickly gathering information essential to tribal members.

Johnston congratulated Porter and other senate race victors afterward and said he appreciated being able to share ideas with Swinomish voters.

Ironically, he was unable to vote because on Saturday he was helping his nephew commercial fish off the Washington coast.

Porter reached out with encouragement to Johnston over the weekend, thanking him for making the race.

“I’ve never believed in an unopposed ballot,” Porter said, stressing that contested elections are a hallmark of democracy. “Keep your voice heard. We are listening.”

The senate, comprised of 11 members, is the official governing body of the Swinomish Tribal Community. Two seats, those held by chairman Steve Edwards and senator Leon John, will be up for election in 2022.