Cathy Chavers

NETT LAKE- Bois Forte tribal chair Cathy Chavers won a third consecutive term in Tuesday’s tribal election, according to official results. Chavers edged Hannah Lehti-Chosa by just six votes, 252-246.
Lehti-Chosa led Chavers by 16 votes once all the ballots cast on Tuesday were counted, but Chavers led 69-47 in the absentee ballots, a 22-point margin that ultimately swung the race to the incumbent.
Lehti-Chosa won in the Nett Lake, Duluth, and Minneapolis districts, while Chavers had the edge in Vermilion.
Chavers was first elected in 2016 when she won just over 51 percent of the vote in the primary election against long-time tribal chair Kevin Leecy and challenger Shane Drift. In her second run for the position in 2020, she easily outdistanced challenger Miranda Villebrun Lilya by 135 votes.
Chavers’ experience and accomplishments were barely enough to fend off the challenge from Lehti-Chosa, the director of marketing for Fortune Bay Resort Casino who came into the contest with no prior tribal government experience.
Chavers’ slim victory suggests some discontent over the status quo. Chavers had outlined an ambitious agenda for her next term at a candidate’s forum in Orr on May 18. Chavers emphasized the Band’s as yet to be specified foray into the recreational marijuana business, more effectively promoting Fortune Bay as a tourist destination, developing the Johnson Lake property for corporate retreats, and seeking government contracts as ways to boost revenue. Chavers said she would like to expand the Band’s urban offices and said diversifying the Band’s businesses could fund more services for off-reservation members. She also said that the Band needs to be more involved with off-reservation members and needs to facilitate their involvement with Band activities. Providing affordable housing options, good jobs with good wages for Band members, and enhancing workplace culture were other items Chavers touched on during the forum.
Drift wins in District I
Perry Drift was the winner over Edward Villebrun for the District I tribal council seat, garnering 158 votes to Villebrun’s 153. Five ballots for the race were left blank. The candidates were tied after Tuesday’s votes were counted, and again it was absentee ballots that put Drift over the top. Villebrun narrowly won the Nett Lake, Vermilion, and Minneapolis vote, while Drift carried Duluth.
The results are considered preliminary until certified by the Band’s election board at a meeting that was to take place on Wednesday after the Timberjay’s press time. Candidates may request a recount of the ballots within three days of the election, and the election board will determine if a request is granted.