An Update on the Continuing Saga of Donna Hoffer's Quest to Become Orr School District's First Indian Woman Board Member

Friends/Niiji,

Do you believe more women, more Indians, and more people of high integrity belong in public office? Please read on...it won’t take long. I hope that you will pass this on to others who may be able to help. Please call or write if I can provide more information. Miigwetch, thank you for your time, interest, and help.

Michael “Makaki” Meuers (Chairman SD 4 DFL and Proud Friend of Donna Hoffer)

Background
Back in July '04 Donna Hoffer, former Executive Director for the Bois Forte Band, current personnel director for the Cook Hospital, and 2004 Delegate to the DFL State Convention filed for Orr School Board. A first time candidate, she knew she had an uphill battle running against a long term (16 years) incumbent and board chair Zelda Bruns.

Yet, on Election Day, Donna's hard work (with a little help from her friends) and credibility paid off, and after the votes were counted, Ms. Hoffer was the victor by a two vote margin, much to the surprise of the incumbent. The inevitable recount was held on November 10, 2004. During that recount, Ms. Bruns had a hired lawyer present, much to the astonishment of Donna who did not. The incumbents lawyer had a purpose and challenged many votes/voters on the flimsiest grounds and soon Ms. Hoffer found herself behind. But when the canvassing board met on November 17th, and examined the challenged votes...a tie was declared. As is customary, the winner would be determined by lot, in this case the toss of a quarter. Zelda was assigned "heads", and Donna (interestingly) was assigned "eagles". Well, wouldn't ya know "eagles" came up and Donna was declared the victor for the second time. The school board certified Donna the winner and prepared to seat her on January 1st.

However, apparently twice was not enough and Ms. Hoffer was presented another obstacle to face in her bid to take her twice won seat on the Orr School Board.

In early December, Ms. Hoffer was summoned to appear in court regarding an issue regarding absentee ballots from Crane Lake. A Ms. Dorothy G. Mohr, an acquaintance (?) of Zelda Bruns brought a suit. (Coincidently, members of Zelda's campaign raised money to hire a lawyer by letter with response address of the campaign manager of an unendorsed DFL candidate who won. Donna supported the endorsed candidate) It appears there was an addition to the Crane Lake area in the past two years by 31 voters, that, through an error on the part of St. Louis County Schools, were not sent mail-in ballots. Never mind, that it occurred to none of these 31 voters, (until after Donna won the second time) that they did not get a school ballot, even though with mail in ballots they had a full month to notice they did not have a school board ballot.

This time however, Donna brought a lawyer with her too, a volunteer from the offices of Jacobson, Buffalo, Schoessler and Magnuson, one Mark Anderson. Despite Mark's quite valid arguments that voters had plenty of time to realize they did not have ballots and request them, and that a special election would hardly be fair and have the same turn-out as a Presidential election, the District Court Judge of Duluth, Judge Heather L. Sweetland ruled that a "serious and material defect occurred". The judge seemed to feel that allowing 31 “disenfranchised” voters with a new "special" election (where 20 to 50 percent voter turnout would be outstanding) would reflect the will of the people better than the 90%+ voters who voted in the general election on November 2. The judge mercifully however, did not but could have, made Donna pay for the new election (despite the facts that she won twice, had nothing to do with or was unaware of the mistake, and had nothing to do with the suit) simply because she ruled in favor of her opponent. Justice be done, the judge ordered the school district to pay instead.

Later, after the judge having the option of having the special election held at the normal nine polling places, at the Orr School only, or by mail-in ballot throughout the district, did the right thing and ordered a mail-in ballot. The surest way to get the greatest turn out. Whew!

So those of us who smell sour grapes...or worse and believe in justice, what can we do now?
If you are of political influence you can help Donna get out the vote. If you know friends, relatives, or party regulars in any of the Koochiching or St. Louis County precincts, encourage them to vote for Donna on the new election day, Tuesday March 1, 2005. Maybe take a few days over at Fortune Bay and give Donna a hand with door knocking etc.

If you have a few dollars, please send them to Donna, and do it soon! We feel she needs about $3,000 to send out direct mailings and buy a few newspaper ads to get her supporters to the polls in this special election. The maximum amount you can donate is $300, but $5 would be appreciated. Check should be made out to Friends of Hoffer and then mailed to Ann Christensen, Treasurer; Friends of Hoffer for School Board; 3894 Hwy. #119; Orr, MN 55771.

THE PRECINCTS: Koochiching County. Part of Nett Lake and Silverdale/Summerville.
St. Louis County. Crane Lake, Camp 5, Leiding Twp., Linden Grove Twp., Morcom Twp., Orr, Portage Twp., Sturgeon Twp., Unorg. 11, Unorg. 12, Kabetogama, Unorg. 8, Unorg. 21, and Willow Valley Twp.

THE TIMELINE: According to St. Louis County Auditor Donald Dicklich, Jan. 5, 2005
January 17; Notice to be posted/published concerning mail ballot precincts. Notice will be published in Cook News Herald, Orr Timber Jay, and Voyageur Sentinel.
January 17; Post cards will be mailed to all registered voters advising them that they will receive ballots for the election. The postcard will give info as to how to make a request for an absentee ballot for snow birds and others.
January 29; Absentee ballots available for those eligible and unregistered voters.
February 9; Preregistration for voters ends. (All currently registered or voters who have submitted new registrations will receive a ballot in the mail)
February 9-15; Mail ballots must be sent 14-20 days prior to election. Ballots cannot be forwarded via US Mail.
March 1, 2005; Election Day. Ballots can be returned or obtained up until 8 PM to the District Office.
March 2, 2005; Canvas board will meet and certify the results.

Please help Donna in whatever way you can, make the third time the charm, and win decisively.