Judge voids tribal election; new election ordered

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Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2000 | 1:43 a.m.

Three tribal officers were ousted from the election held on Jan. 8.

But after reviewing five challenges to the outcome, Tribal Judge Mitchell C. Wright determined the election committee erred when it scheduled the election less than 30 days from when it finalized the ballot, the Lahontan Valley News and Fallon Eagle Standard reported Tuesday.

"The decision of the election board and the tribal business council was clearly erroneous in scheduling the election with less than 30 days between the finalization of the ballot and the election," the judge wrote.

A new election has been scheduled for March 25. Tribal officials were to meet on Thursday to decide if the ballot will remain the same, if candidates must file again and if new challengers will be eligible.

In last month's election, Vice Chairman Norman Allen, council member Merlyn Dixon and council secretary Susan Willie were defeated, as was a ballot proposal to increase council terms from two years to three or four years.