CLOQUET, Minn. (AP) - Members of the Fond du Lac Band of Chippewa voted Tuesday to elect Karen Diver as their first female tribal chairwoman.
Diver drew more votes in all three reservation districts than her challenger, Clarence "Chuck" Smith. Diver received 649 votes to Smith's 370 votes out of 1,019 regular and absentee ballots cast, the Duluth News Tribune reported. About one-third of eligible voters cast ballots.
The new tribal chair becomes the head of the five-person Reservation Business Committee, sometimes called the tribal council.
"Fond du Lac has been so progressive as a tribal nation, there are so many opportunities available to us," Diver said Tuesday night. "It will be a challenge for the Reservation Business Committee to come together and capitalize on our strengths."
Any challengers have until Feb. 6 to file a protest, and Smith told the News Tribune he was considering his options.
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His sister, Carol Smith, attended the ballot count on his behalf. She said Smith was considering filing a protest based on the way band members' names and addresses were gathered to make absentee ballots available to them.
The election results were due to be certified Wednesday. The current tribal council would decide on any protests.
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Information from: Duluth News Tribune, http://www.duluthsuperior.com
