The Aroostook Band of Micmacs May 8th election for Chief, Vice Chief and Tribal Council has been declared Invalid By the Bands Elder Council.

The Aroostook Band of Micmacs May 8th election for Chief, Vice Chief and Tribal Council has been declared invalid by the bands Elder Council. On May 10, 20 band members filed four challenges to the election. In accordance with the Bands By-Laws the bands Elders Council is solely responsible for deciding the outcome. The Elders Council met on may 12, 2007 and accepted 3 of the 4 challenges:

1) Failure of Julie Miller to meet Band eligibility requirements to run for goverment office

2) Candidate Marilyn Frances improperly used Band resources to campaign for office by promising to forgive all back rent owed by Band members and promising to sell them their Tribal housing for $1.00

3) The Election Committee failed to provide absentee ballots for out of area voting within seven days after nominations of candidates were made

The Elders Council decided the may 8th election was invalid and ordered the Micmac Tribal Council to arrange a new election in a timely manner. Under the bands By-Laws the Elders Councils decision is final. Franklin Keel, Director of the Eastern Region of the Bureau of Indain Affairs has told Band representatives that he will respect the decision of the Elders Concil and will not interfere with the Bands electoral processas set out in the Bands By-Laws. As a result, Keel says he is withholding any formal acknowledgementof the recent winners of the May8th election pending the outcome of the new forthcoming election. The Bands Tribal Council will meet on Wednsday night to decide on a date for the new election.

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