Fond Du Lac Re-strategizing After Failed Vote

Fond Du Lac Re-strategizing After Failed Vote

Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at 13:56

 

 

It’s back to the drawing board for administration officials in Fond du Lac who were hoping to extend the length of time elected politicians could serve in office.

 

An official with the First Nation says it’s doubtful another plebiscite will be held before the next election.

 

This week the band asked its members if they would be open to the idea of having elected officials serve terms longer than two years.

 

Fifty-eight of the 98 voters who participated in the excercise were against the idea, in part because they feared longer terms would limit elected officials’ accountability to the membership.

 

The corporate director for the First Nation, Darrell McDonald, says that’s unfortunate, because the band does have in place mechanisms to remove individuals if there is a discrepancy or any dispute regarding an elected official.

 

McDonald says he wishes more than 98 people would have taken part in the plebiscite

 

He says band members need to realize that meaningful change will only come about through healthy participation.

 

“It’s an individual responsibility as well to the community, not just the community being responsible to the individual. So we all have those rights, and I think if we exercise more of the voting rights, I think there will be better turn-outs on decision-making as far as the community goes,” McDonald says.

 

McDonald estimates 500 to 600 eligible voters reside on-reserve.

 

He says the band could possibly pose the question again on ballot forms during elections later this fall, but that’s still undecided.