Robert “Bobby“ Deschampe
Following his win in the June 9 primary election for the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Tribal Council chairperson seat, District 1 Cook County Commissioner Robert “Bobby” Deschampe has said he will give up his seat on the county board on August 21.
Deschampe sent an email to fellow commissioners and Auditor/ Treasurer Braidy Powers on June 16 notifying them about his decision. In his letter he stated, “This resignation is due to my recent victory to become the Tribal Chair for the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Up until that date, I will fulfill my responsibilities as the District 1 Commissioner.”
By gaining 54 percent of the vote in the Grand Portage primary, Bobby won the election for chairperson and will not face anyone in the general election. He will replace Beth Drost, who had won an historic vote to become the first woman in Grand Portage to be elected to the tribal chairperson position.
Deschampe was first elected to the county board in 2017 after winning a special election to replace Frank Moe, who stepped down for health reasons. Bobby was re-elected in 2018 to a four-year term.
In order to find a replacement to fill Deschampe’s term, Auditor/Treasurer Powers said, “The board will call for a special election next Tuesday (June 30) and the election will take place on November 3rd. It will appear on the General Election ballot.”
Bobby ended his email to fellow commissioners by saying, “It has been my privilege to serve the citizens of Cook County and work with each of you.”
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