Members of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians voted overwhelmingly to bar the former chairman and seven other people from running for public office.

Tribal members passed a referendum against former chairman Bernard Bouschor and current director Paul Shagen. The two men are currently defendants in a lawsuit filed by the tribe that accuses them of fraud, breach of lawful authority, breach of fiduciary duties and the handling of $2.6 million. Six other former tribal employees are also named in the suit.

If the lawsuit is resolved, the defendants could seek to run for office in the future.

Get the Story:
Tribal vote bans Bouschor, Shagen from '06 election (The Soo Evening News 1/26)

Relevant Links:
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians - http://www.sootribe.org
Sault Tribe Times, independent site - http://www.saulttribetimes.com

Related Stories:
Sault Tribe chairman fights union effort at school (11/02)
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe sues former chairman (08/16)
New Soo Tribe chairman banishes predecessor (07/12)
Controversies continue after Soo Tribe election (07/01)
Michigan paper blasted for endorsing tribal chair (06/11)
Sault Tribe chairman blamed for 'gay' mailing (06/08)