Lafrance expected to be nominated in second tribal caucus

By Kanienhtonkie

The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Election Board will hold a Tribal Caucus this Saturday, June 26, 2021 for one vacant Tribal Chief position.

An SRMT press release stated, “The basis of the appeal that was heard included that the Election Board erred in ruling on the validity of multiple ballots and that this error may have changed the result of the election ... Based on the Election Board’s decision, they will call for a Special Election in accordance with the Election Ordinance ... A notice to the community will be released once the dates have been set.”

This would allow for any interested candidate to enter or re-enter the race. The caucus is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at the former IGA Building. Once the candidates are set, a special election would occur 30 days after.

Appeals were filed by Tribe members in accordance with the Tribe’s Election Ordinance on the final results for Chief where incumbent Eric Thompson ran unopposed.

Thompson won on election day by a narrow victory over write-in challenger Ronald LaFrance, Jr. Thompson was re-elected to his position, with 271 total votes. LaFrance received 247 total votes for the position, narrowly missing becoming Chief-elect by 25 votes. Thompson received 204 votes, while LaFrance got 193 write-ins. LaFrance edged Thompson in absentee ballot totals 17-13, but the incumbent received 54 early votes. LaFrance got 37 early votes.

There will be no observers allowed, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Only nominators, seconders and nominees for each position will be allowed inside the building during the caucus.

Akwesasne TV will stream the caucus, live on Facebook. The nominee list will be posted after the meeting.

Former Chief Ron Lafrance stated, “Although I am pleased that the Election Board thought that my appeal had merit and overturned their decision regarding the unofficial results, they should have awarded me the victory. Having the opportunity to be on the ballot is great and cuts out a lot of the confusion of writing in a candidate, they should have done what is right. To me they did the next best thing. We did it once and we will do it again.”

Lafrance is expected to be nominated on the ballot this second time around.

Chief Eric Thompson stated, “I respect the Election Boards decision and look forward to the Special Election. My philosophy regarding elections is that I’m running for a position and not necessarily against anyone in particular. I have positive forward-looking platform, the requisite knowledge and experience backed up with a solid record of achievement and I feel that given those factors I’m the best candidate for the position”.

He added, “I have always striven to conduct a clean and fair campaign in the past and I intend to do the same for the Special Election on July 31st.