Friday, October 09, 2009

Incumbents swept out of office in LdF tribal election
Incumbent members of tribal council, secretary, treasurer all lose re-election bid

Joe VanDeLaarschot
Reporter

Friday, October 09, 2009


Opponents of the Lac du Flambeau tribal government apparently got their wish Tuesday when two incumbent members of the tribal council and the incumbent treasurer and secretary were all voted out of office as the result of a controversial tribal election.

In the election for tribal secretary, challenger Betty Graveen defeated incumbent Gerry "Weeders" Brown with 544 votes to Brown's 336.

In the race for tribal treasurer, Barry LeSieur finished first with 526 votes and defeated incumbent Rose Mitchell who received 355 votes.

In the race for the four seats on the tribal council, incumbents Mike W. Christensen and Donna LeMere lost in their bids for re-election.

The top four candidates who won election to the tribal council were Eric Chapman Sr. with 428 votes; Goldie Larson with 427 votes; Betty J. Jack with 405 votes; and Elmer Risingsun with 404 votes.

Other candidates on the ballot and their vote totals, but who did not earn a seat on the council were:

John R. LaBarge Jr. with 400 votes; Elizabeth "Liza" Doud Driver with 334 votes; incumbent Donna LeMere with 307; and Mike Christensen with 270 votes.

According to tribal election officials, 907 tribal members cast ballots in Tuesday's election and there were 89 write-in votes for the tribal council.

Tuesday's election results came after a hotly contested campaign that included the results of a Sept. 1 primary being thrown out by the tribal election board after tribal council member and candidate Mike Christensen filed an election complaint that claimed alleged election day campaigning at the polls.

In his written complaint, Christensen alleged that small blue cards containing the names of six candidates were given out to show support for specific candidates and to promote their election.

Christensen also alleged that a tribal member was seen Sept. 1 outside the entrance to the polling place handing out additional copies of the blue card.

The election board agreed with Christensen's complaint.

The board ruled there was evidence of illegal electioneering at the polls, voter fraud and other irregularities, according to tribal chairman Carl Edwards. They then ordered a new tribal primary which was held Sept. 21.

Tribal officials had said that as far as they could determine the election board's decision to throw out the results of the Sept. 1 primary was the first time that such an order was ever made and carried out by the tribe.

The Lakeland Times placed a phone call to Christensen seeking comment on the results of the election. He did not return that call before press time.

Joe VanDeLaarschot can be reached at jvandelaarschot@lakelandtimes.com.