Cloud returns to Southern Ute Tribal Council, takes Oath of Office 

Lorelei Cloud successfully received a majority of the votes cast in the 2021 General Election held on Friday, November 5. According to the Southern Ute Tribal Election, the two Tribal Council candidates receiving the majority of votes will be elected to the Tribal Council; Cloud was the only candidate to receive a majority of votes cast. 

The Southern Ute Election Board confirmed the following election results: 

Office of Tribal Council No. of Votes 

Vanessa P. Torres   145 

Lorelei Cloud          155

Bruce Valdez          133 

Cedric Chavez        74 

Lindsay J. Box       97 

 Newly elected Southern Ute Tribal Council Member, Lorelei Cloud has previously served two terms on Tribal Council. In her first term she served as Vice-Chairman, and in both terms, she served as Tribal Council Treasurer. Cloud served as the Chairman of the Permanent Fund Investment Committee and the Tribe’s Audit Committee. While in office, she advocated for tribal water rights and represented the Tribe on the Ten Tribes Partnership, serving as Chairman from 2017-2018. 

During Cloud’s year out of office, she maintained her commitment to tribal water rights, serving as a member of the Water and Tribes Initiative and the Indigenous Women’s Leadership Network (as Co-Chairman). 

“I am deeply honored to be elected once again by the Southern Ute tribal membership, to be their voice on Tribal Council. I look forward to making decisions which yield maximum benefits for our people,” stated Council Member Cloud. 

Cloud is a true advocate for Ute language, traditions, and culture; actively participating in cultural events and traditional gatherings. She has four children (three daughters and one son) and three grandchildren. 

The second Tribal Council seat will be determined by a run-off election to be held on Friday, December 17, 2021. Candidates in the 2021 Run-Off Election are Vanessa P. Torres and W. Bruce Valdez. 

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