Support the Timberjay by making a donation.

Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Leecy election contest dismissed after audit confirms results

Posted

NETT LAKE—A tribal elections judge here dismissed with prejudice an election contest filed last week by current Bois Forte tribal chairman Kevin Leecy.

Leecy lost in the April 5 primary to Cathy Chavers, who tallied 51 percent of the vote in a three-way race. Under the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe’s election ordinance, Chavers avoided a run-off with Leecy in the June general election.

The decision to dismiss Leecy’s complaint came after he announced he would voluntarily withdraw the contest, and accept the results of the primary election. Leecy’s decision came after an audit of the Bois Forte election by MCT Executive Director Gary Frazer and Director of Administration Brian Brunelle confirmed that the election results, certified last week, were correct.

The Bois Forte election board, in a statement issued Wednesday, said it agreed with the findings of the audit and was ready to get back to work overseeing the District I tribal council general election, set for Tuesday, June 14.

The decision appears to clear the way for Chavers to assume the tribal chair position at the end of Leecy’s current term.