Joseph Finley is a member of the Colville Business Council representing the Inchelium district of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in northeastern Washington. He chairs the council’s Elections Committee and took office on July 10, 2025.1Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Joseph Finley – Colville Business Council2Tribal Tribune. New CBC Members Sworn In
How He Won the Seat
Finley defeated incumbent Steven Carson in the Inchelium race during the Colville Business Council general election on June 26, 2025.2Tribal Tribune. New CBC Members Sworn In3Tribal Tribune. 2025 General Election Results4Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Get to Know Your Council
What He Chairs
Finley chairs the Elections Committee and holds vice-chair positions on the Community Development Committee and the Health and Human Services Committee.1Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Joseph Finley – Colville Business Council
The Elections Committee carries real authority under the Colville tribal code. It sets the rules and regulations for all tribal elections, certifies candidates, appoints district election board members, and resolves disputes, protests, and challenges that come out of the electoral process. It can fine candidates up to $250 per violation of campaign rules or disqualify them outright, and those decisions are final. As chair, Finley is also the person responsible for notifying news media of certified election results.5University of Oklahoma Law Center. Colville Tribal Code – Elections
The Inchelium Issues on His Desk
Inchelium’s physical connection to the rest of the region runs across Lake Roosevelt on an aging ferry. Discussions about replacing the Inchelium-Gifford Ferry with a bridge have been going since 2009, and the tribal Department of Transportation has developed a bridge concept and scheduled district meetings in 2026 to present it and gather community input. Transit service to the community is limited to two tribal routes linking Inchelium to Nespelem and Colville, and a transit expansion feasibility study is underway to identify service gaps.6Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Department of Transportation
Energy reliability is another live issue. Power outages on Colville tribal homelands have grown more frequent because of wildfires, storms, and extreme temperatures, and Inchelium is one of three sites selected for new microgrids combining rooftop solar, solar-paneled parking canopies, and battery storage. The project is being built with Open Access Technology International and funded in part by Washington State Department of Commerce tribal clean energy grants, and tribal leadership has described it as a move toward energy sovereignty and lower costs for members and elders.7Northwest Public Broadcasting. Power Outages Are Getting Worse on Colville Tribe Homelands