Payment, McCoy To Run for Tribal Chairmanship
Top Board Candidates Also Emerge From Primary

The four-candidate pool for tribal chairperson was reduced to two, Aaron Payment and Joe McCoy, following the conclusion of the May 22 primary election, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians announced. The list of 22 candidates campaigning for a seat on the board of directors was also reduced by half. In the St. Ignace Unit Three, Fred Paquin and Pat Rickley will advance to compete for one board seat; and in the Les Cheneaux area Unit Two, Lana Causley and Robert Horn will run for one seat.

Tribal members will get a voting choice of two candidates per open seat during the general election June 26. The top six candidates collecting the most votes in the Unit One primary advance to the general election. The top two candidates garnering the most primary votes in Units Two and Three also advance to the general election. The Unit Four seat was excluded from the primary election because incumbent candidate Tom Miller ran unopposed and is now deemed elected. There are no seats up for election this year in Unit Five.

All tribal members registered to vote may choose one candidate for chairperson. Unit One voters may choose three candidates for a board seat, while voters from Units Two and Three may each choose one. Winners of the primary election will appear on the general election ballot scheduled for distribution June 5.

The following results are considered unofficial.

2008 Primary Election of the Sault Tribe Board of Directors

Chairperson Candidates (Top two advance to general election; one seat up for election)
1. Aaron Payment * (3,322)
2. Darwin "Joe" McCoy (2,294)
3. Dennis McKelvie (755)
4. James Causley (299)

Unit 1 Candidates (Top six advance to general election; three seats up for election)
1. Bernard A. Bouschor (1,388)
2. Cathy M. Abramson * (1,329)
3. Nathan J. Wright (1,051)
4. Joseph V. Eitrem * (921)
5. Todd K. Gravelle * (908)
6. Luella M. Brown (742)
7. John F. Kibble (539)
8. Wayne J. Goetz (529)
9. Bernard (Bud) A. Biron (521)
10. Betty F. Freiheit (404)
11. Lona B. Stewart (321)
12. Amy S. Sabatine-Kerckaert
(273)
13. John W. Biron (237)

Unit 2 Candidates (Top two advance to general election; one seat up for election)
1. Lana E. Causley * (409)
2. Robert R. Horn (262)
3. Catherine Hollowell (202)

Unit 3 Candidates (Top two advance to general election; one seat up for election)
1. Patrick D. Rickley (490)
2. Frederick J. Paquin * (360)
3. Robert J. Lambert (357)
4. Leonard V. Adams (158)
5. James M. DeKeyser (57)

Unit 4 Candidates (No primary required; one seat up for election)

1. Thomas G. Miller *

Primary Election Statistics

Number of ballots mailed: 11,753

Number of ballots received: 6,749

Number of ballots with spoiled choices: 134

* Indicates incumbent candidate

Results of the election are deemed official and final 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. Candidates have three days after the uncertified results are posted by the Election Committee to contest the results or request a recount.

The tribe's seven-county service area, which includes Chippewa, Mackinac, Luce, Schoolcraft, Alger, Delta, and Marquette counties, is divided into five units. Each unit is represented by an established number of elected tribal members who serves on the board of directors. The 13-member board of directors is the governing body of the tribe. Each board member is elected to a four-year term by the tribal membership in a general election by a mail-in ballot.