By Nigel Maxwell

Electoral officer removed at Sturgeon Lake

Mar 10, 2016 | 1:03 PM

The election for chief and council at Sturgeon Lake First Nation has hit a speed bump.

Both the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and the Deputy Electoral Officer (DEO) have been removed, according to the Elders Executive Advisory Council.

Council member Mary Naytowhow said CEO Leslie Badger and DEO Claudia McCallum were removed for a number of reasons including refusing to sign an oath of office, mismanaging nominee deposits which Naytowhow alleged were paid in cash to themselves.

“They said that they took it to the office, left it in a mailbox and they are giving different stories,” Naytowhow said.

Each of the councillor candidates are required to pay a deposit of $200 and the chief candidates, $300. The money is used by the band to pay for election expenses.

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“I think it is well above $7,000 (that has gone missing),” she thought.

The RCMP is now investigating the allegations, but no charges have been laid.

Naytowhow also claimed that Badger and McCallum prevented at least six legitimate candidates from running for chief and council.

“There is no reason why they can’t run. It’s because of personal issues that they had with (the prospective candidates),” Naytowhow said.

Naytowhow said there will be a special meeting Monday to elect a new CEO and DEO.

Despite the wishes of the Elders Executive Advisory Council, Badger continues to assume the role of CEO. 

However, a letter has been circulated by Badger to band members, saying not only is he still the CEO, but there is a nomination meeting for the election on Friday.

The band council is working with the elders council to address the concerns.

paNOW has attempted to contact interim chief Anita Parenteau for comment but she could not be reached for comment.

The band has been without an acting chief since March 27, 2013 because of criminal allegations levelled against former chief Henry Felix.

Those charges were later stayed by a judge.

nmaxwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell