MN-S Election has a few shockers
- EFN Staff | May 28, 2017
For a while it looked like the Métis of Saskatchewan were going to elect Regina resident Karen LaRocque the first woman President but a late surge by Northern Village of Pinehouse resident Glen McCallum saw him take the President race by 135 votes. Almost 5100 people voted for the President position that was hotly contested with nine candidates.
This election was supposed to be a reset where the community could put the past four years of ugly politics behind them. Much of the controversy in the last four years at the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan has been focussed around Vice President Gerald Morin and his alleged ‘faction’. That controversy did not stop him from winning the Vice President spot again though, beating his closest competitor Darren Deschambeault by 277 votes. The night was a back and forth for VP between Morin, Daigneault and former MN-S Treasurer Louis Gardiner. Like the election in 2012, Morin was the largest vote getter in both the president and vice president positions.
Ashley Norton beat out veteran politician Tammy Mah-Fiddler and Lisa McCallum to take the important Secretary position. McCallum came within 38 votes for a close second.
The Treasurer position went to Mary Ann Morin. Morin has extensive financial experience and is a CPA and Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager.
There were a few upsets in the Regions. Long serving Eastern Region 2 Area Director Helene Johnson lost to Sherry Soll 47-42 ending a multiple term era of leadership. In Prince Albert, long serving Western Region 2 Director Darlene McKay was upset by Sherry Ann McLennan, losing by over 100 votes. Only three Area Directors, Earl Cook, Derek Langan and Billy Kennedy return from last term.
The complete list of Area Directors is: Easter Region 1 Ryan Lee Carrier. Eastern Region 2 Sherry Soll. Eastern Region 2A Derek Porky Langan. Easter Region 3 Marg Friesen. Western Region 1 Loretta Maria King. Western Region 1A Billy Kennedy. Western Region 2 Sherry Ann McLennan. Western Region 2A Rebecca Major. Western Region 3 Wendy S. Gervais. Northern Region 1 Earl Cook. Northern Region 2 Leonard Montgrand. Western Region 3 Mervin Tex Leonard Bouvier.
All of these results are still unofficial.