Joe McCoy Elected To Lead Tribe

Sault Ste. Marie businessman Darwin "Joe" McCoy will be the next chairman of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. (Photograph courtesy of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians)

Darwin "Joe" McCoy of Sault Ste. Marie defeated incumbent tribal chairman Aaron Payment, 3,853 to 3,495, in a June 26 election to become chairperson of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Tribal members who are registered voters conducted the election by mail ballot.

Two new members were elected to the tribe's governing board of directors, Patrick Rickley in Unit 3 (St. Ignace area), replacing incumbent Fred Paquin, and former chairman Bernard Bouschor in Unit 1 (Sault Ste. Marie area), replacing incumbent Todd Gravelle.

Tribal members re-elected incumbent representatives Cathy Abramson and Joseph Eitrem in Unit 1, Lana Causley in Unit 2, and Tom Miller in Unit 4. All will serve another four-year term. No seats were up for election this term for Unit 5.

"I am really humbled about how things turned out," said Mr. McCoy in a news release. "I look forward to working with our team members, the new and existing board members, and working for our tribal members."

The date has not yet been determined by the board for newly elected tribal officials to be seated. The board will call a special meeting to install the new board members.

For the general election, all tribal members registered to vote were able to vote for chairperson. Unit I voters were able 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.

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 serve on the board. All officers serve for four years and staggered terms put half of the board up for election every two years.

The following results are considered unofficial, and were announced by the Sault Tribe Election Committee during the public ballot count June 26. Results of the election are deemed official 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 unofficial results are posted by the Election Committee to contest the results or request a recount.

2008 General Election of the Sault Tribe Board of Directors

Unofficial Results

Chairperson Candidates (One seat up for election)

1. Darwin "Joe" J. McCoy (3,853)

2. Aaron A. Payment* (3,495)

Unit 1 Candidates (Three 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 (One seat up for election)

1. Lana E. Causley* (566)

2. Robert R. Horn (404)

Unit 3 Candidates (One seat up for election)

1. Patrick D. Rickley (890)

2. Frederick J. Paquin* (753)

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

1. Thomas G. Miller*

Election Statistics

Number of Ballots Mailed: 11,670

Number of Ballots Received: 7,377

Number of Ballots Deemed Spoiled: 2 (Ineligible ballots: Primary ballots sent in by mistake)

* Indicates incumbent candidate