Cook County News Herald

Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa voters select Marie Spry for Tribal Council Committeeperson seat



With 54.84 percent of the vote in her favor, Marie Spry defeated incumbent Rick Anderson for the Grand Portage Tribal Committeeperson seat that was up for grabs on the August 18 general election.

When the ballots were counted, Spry received 136 votes: 74 were absentee, and 62 were in-person votes.

Anderson picked up 45.16 percent of the vote, tallying 112 votes: 72 of them were absentee with 40 ballots cast in person.

On Tuesday, August 18, the general election was held with the polls opening at 8 a.m. and closing at 8 p.m. at the old log Community School building.

With the win, Spry will return to a position she has held in the past. When Tribal Chair Norman Deschampe died, Spry, who was then on the tribal council, was moved to Tribal Chair until a special election was conducted to pick a new chair.

Rick Anderson was the top vote-getter in the June primary, with 41.16 percent of the vote, while Spry picked up 25.99 percent of the ballots cast in a field of five candidates.

Poll Judge Toby Stevens, Teller Vivian Carlson, Clerk Jason Burnett and Alternate Larry Manthey oversaw the polls.

The election results won’t be official until the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe certifies them.

Marie Spry will be sworn in sometime in September, joining newly elected Tribal Council Chair Robert (Bobby) Deschampe, Secretary/Treasurer April McCormick, council member John Morrin and council member William “Bill” Meyers.

Grand Portage Reservation Tribal Council is the governing body of the reservation. The Tribal Council “provides for the needs of the people with health care, social services, education, jobs, housing, public safety, and more,”

There are five elected Tribal Council members, a chairman, vice-chairman, secretary-treasurer, and two at-large members. Enrolled members of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa elect the Tribal Council officers, with elections held every two years for half of the positions.

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