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Sault Saint Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Welcomes New Chairman

By Anonymous

By SooToday.com Staff

The Sault Tribe membership will welcome in a new chairman this year. Darwin (Joe) McCoy successfully defeated incumbent Chairperson Aaron Payment 3,853 to 3,495 to become the fourth chairperson of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

"I am really humbled about how things turned out. I look forward to working with our team members, the new and existing board members, and working for our tribal members. I would also like to thank all my supporters and look forward to bringing the tribe into better times," stated Chairman-Elect Joe McCoy.

The Sault Tribe's governing body will also welcome two new members to its board of directors.

Unofficial results indicate Bernard A. Bouschor (Unit 1) and Patrick D. Rickley (Unit 3) were voted to the tribal board to represent their respective units.

Tribal members welcomed back incumbent representatives' Cathy M. Abramson (Unit 1), Joseph V. Eitrem (Unit 1), Lana E. Causley (Unit 2), and Tom Miller (Unit 4), who will all serve another four year term. No seats were up for election this term for Unit 5.

For the general election, all tribal members registered to vote were able to cast their vote for chairperson.

Unit I voters had to select three board representatives, while voters from Units' II and III had to each choose one.

Incumbent Tom Miller ran unopposed in Unit 4 and according to the Election Code is deemed elected to the Unit IV seat.

The Sault Tribe's seven-county service area, which includes Chippewa, Mackinac, Luce, Schoolcraft, Alger, Delta, and Marquette counties, are divided into five units.

Each unit is represented by an established number of elected tribal members who serve on the board of directors.

The 13-member board of directors is the governing body of the Sault Tribe.

Each board member is elected to a four-year term by the tribal membership in a general election by mail-in ballot.

The following results are considered "unofficial," and were announced by the Sault Tribe election committee during the public ballot count held on June 26.

Results of the election are deemed official and certified following an announcement to the board of directors at the next scheduled board meeting or if no action is taken in seven days following the election.

Per the election code, candidates have three days after the unofficial results are posted by the election committee to contest the results or request a recount.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS

Chairperson Candidates (1-seat up for election)

1. Darwin (Joe) J. McCoy (3,853)
2. Aaron A. Payment * (3,495)

Unit 1 Candidates (3-seats up for election)

1. Joseph V. Eitrem * (1,953)
2. Cathy M. Abramson * (1,946)
3. Bernard A. Bouschor (1,660)
4. Nathan J. Wright (1,655)
5. Luella M. Brown (1,299)
6. Todd K. Gravelle * (1,267)

Unit 2 Candidates (1-seat up for election)

1. Lana E. Causley * (566)
2. Robert R. Horn (404)

Unit 3 Candidates (1-seat up for election)

1. Patrick D. Rickley (890)
2. Frederick J. Paquin * (753)

Unit 4 Candidates (No primary required, 1-seat up for election)

1. Thomas G. Miller * **

Unit 5 Candidates

No seats up for election this term.

Election statistics

# of Ballots Mailed: 11,670
# of Ballots Received: 7,377
# of Ballots Deemed Spoiled: 2 (Ineligible ballots: Primary ballots sent in by mistake)

* Indicates incumbent candidate

** Pursuant to Election Ordinance, Section 10.117(6): If only one candidate is eligible at the time of the expiration of the contest period following the posting of eligible candidates, that candidate shall be declared elected for purposes of the general election.