NETT LAKE— Catherine Chavers will be the new Bois Forte Tribal Chair, following primary election results from Tuesday.

Chavers received 302 votes, according to official results posted late Wednesday, easily outdistancing her opponents, including long-time tribal chair Kevin Leecy, who tallied 219 votes, and Shane Drift, who finished a distant third with 69 votes.

“I am very honored to have been elected as the new Tribal Chairperson of the Bois Forte Band by the tribal members,” said Chavers in a statement provided to the Timberjay late Wednesday. “I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported me and gave me encouragement throughout this primary election process.  It is very much appreciated and I look forward to these next four years.”

Chavers received 51.19 percent of the total vote, which means she wins the seat outright. Under the election ordinance for the Minnesota Chippewa Tribes, there is no need for a general election runoff when any candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote in a primary contest.

Chavers, who campaigned on a promise of more openness in government and better oversight of tribal businesses, including Fortune Bay Resort Casino, enjoyed her strongest support in Nett Lake, where she received 109 votes, more than twice the 44 votes received by Leecy. The election ends Leecy’s 12 years of service as the band’s top elected official.

Meanwhile, District 1 tribal council representative Karlene Chosa topped the voting in her re-election bid, but failed to get a majority in the four-person contest. Chosa will now face Travis Morrison in the general election scheduled for June 14.

Chosa led a field of four candidates with 160 votes. Morrison finished with 110 votes. Michael Connor was third with 86 votes while Stanley Day came in fourth with 36 votes.

“I would like to thank the voters of Bois Forte for their support so we can continue positive change by working towards openness in our government,” Chosa said in a statement emailed to the Timberjay.