Travis Morrison

Carlos Hernandez

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NETT LAKE- The race to replace former Bois Forte Chairperson Cathy Chavers is down to two, as former tribal council member Travis Morrison and political newcomer Carlos Hernandez were the top vote-getters in Tuesday’s special primary election.
Morrison, who served eight years on the council before stepping away in 2024, topped the field of six with 139 votes, 34 percent of the total ballots cast. Hernandez, a former tribal and federal law enforcement officer, tallied 116 votes, or 28.5 percent. Morrison ran slightly ahead of Hernandez in District 1, Minneapolis and Duluth, while Hernandez held a three-vote edge in District 2.
Candidates who bowed out of the race and their vote totals include Peter Boney, 62; Mildred Holmes, 49; Marty Connor, 31; and Rhonda Hoagland, 6.
Band members turned out in higher numbers for this special primary than for last year’s regular primary, with 407 votes cast on Tuesday compared to 387 last year.
Chavers was narrowly re-elected to a third term as chair last year, but unexpectedly retired from the position in January, citing mental health reasons. With first-term member Perry Drift now taking a leave of absence in the wake of an incident at Fortune Bay Resort Casino on Friday, April 11 (see related article in this edition), the tribal council currently has just three active members – interim chair Shane Drift, Robert Moyer and Tara Geshick. Three members constitute a quorum for conducting tribal business.
The special general election will be held on Tuesday, June 17.