The Fond du Lac Reservation has a new tribal chair. In the general election held on Tuesday, Karen Diver won the mandate of the people by a vote of 649 over opponent Clarence "Chuck" Smith, who tallied 370. The total vote count of regular and absentee ballots cast was 1,019, about one-third of the total eligible voters.
The election results were being certified as this issue of the Pine Journal went to press, and Smith will have until Feb. 6 to challenge the results if he so chooses.
Unless the election results are contested, Diver could take over the role of tribal chair as early as Feb. 7, succeeding former chair Peter J. Defoe who stepped down from the position on Sept. 11, 2006. Approximately one year remains in Defoe's unexpired term.
On Wednesday morning, Diver stated she is gratified by the vote of confidence given her by fellow band members and she is prepared to work hard on their behalf.
"I'm pleased they feel I can contribute in a positive way," she commented.
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Diver said she views the reservation as an "emerging democracy," and she is eager to work with the other members of the Reservation Business Committee in strategic planning as the reservation moves ahead into the future.
She said one of her first directives will be to bring herself "up to speed" on the current business matters of the RBC, and she also wants to assure that clear channels of information are maintained with both band members and the community as a whole.
Diver, who will be the band's first female tribal chair, credits her parents, Fond du Lac Band members Chuck and Faye Diver, with helping bring her to where she is today.
"They have been very supportive of me throughout my entire life," Diver said. "They have been involved in helping me to get an education, instilling in me the value of family and encouraging me to work hard and take advantage of the opportunities that have come my way."
For the last three years, Diver has served as the director of special projects for the reservation.
Pine Journal Publisher/ reporter Wendy Johnson can be contacted at: wjohnson@pinejournal.com .
