Council to fill District 1 vacancies

Scott Csernyik

5/14/2003 12:00:00 AM

Saginaw Chippewa Tribal leaders have decided to appoint members to the two vacant District 1 seats. It is not known who will be named to the positions or when the appointments will take place as of an April 29 press deadline.

Input from the membership about the possibility of making appointments to the two positions was solicited by calling a special phone number.

A majority of the calls supported Tribal Council's action. Proponents of making appointments claimed the membership has been faced with too many elections and the general election process will begin in about five months.

"I think the Tribal Council should appoint the members," stated one caller. "It seems like it would be a waste of time and money to have another election."

Opponents to that course of action maintain there needs to be a special election.

"I think we should have an election, that's how the democratic process works," said another caller.

"Leave it up to the people," commented one member.

Article VI, Section 4 of the Tribe's Constitution allows the Tribal Council to appoint qualified individuals to the Tribal Council to fill vacancies caused by death, resignation, forced absence or removal from office.

The two seats became available after Sue Durfee and Bernie Sprague were removed from office for misconduct and neglect of duty.

One caller suggested the Tribal Council choose two members from the Jan. 7 special election. That special election-the last one before District 1 voters-was conducted to replace former Sub-Chief David Otto who was also removed from office for misconduct. Of the 584 registered voters in the district, 248 or 42.47 percent participated in the election.

The Tribe's general election process usually starts in the fall with voter registration deadlines being set in September. Nominating petitions are also made available at that time. Depending on the number of petitions submitted, a primary election is scheduled in October. This is followed by a general election on the first Tuesday in November.

During the last primary election on Oct. 9, 2001, 60 names appeared on the ballot, breaking a previous mark of 52 for the Dec. 1, 1996 primary election.

Chief Maynard Kahgegab Jr. previously stated it is more realistic to appoint two individuals to Tribal Council.

"The membership has been subjected to many elections in recent time," he added.

Some callers agreed with those sentiments.

"It's more realistic for Council to appoint. There's no time for another election with one coming in November," one District 1 member stated.