James M. Olguin won the greater number of votes in the Friday, Dec. 13 Southern Ute runoff election and will be seated as the newest member of the Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council.

Olguin returns to the council after serving a term. He was previously Chairman Jimmy R. Newton Jr.’s vice chairman.

Olguin garnered 159 votes, being favored by 53.3 percent of voters casting ballots.

Joycelyn Peabody Dutchie  received 139 votes, getting 46.6 percent of voters.

There are 895 registered Southern Ute voters. A total of 298 ballots were cast in the runoff election for a voter turnout of 33.3 percent.

The Tribal Council certified the results on Monday, Dec. 16 by a unanimous vote.