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Crow Wing County Historical Society accepts election results
Associate Editor The results of April's Crow Wing County Historical Society's board of directors election were accepted by the board Monday after a committee that initially ruled it as invalid was directed to go back to work on the matter.
The three-person committee, citing three ineligible voters at the annual meeting, originally ruled the election invalid but said that not knowing who they voted for, it would be impossible to change the outcome of the election.
"We would recommend for the good of the society and out of respect for the membership that we accept the election results and move on but that the board direct the executive director to ensure that voting procedures are followed as set forth in the bylaws and Robert's Rules," board member Dick Hayes said.
Elected at the annual meeting were Jolene Pasch of Little Falls, incumbent Hilda Lee of Brainerd and Dwight Thiesse of Brainerd.
Incumbent Jan Burton lost her bid for re-election. Mary Hoag's term expired and bylaws prevented her from running again.
When Hayes and his committee members, Hoag and board member Terry Curtis, delivered their report, board member and Treasurer Doug Johanson suggested one way to resolve the questionable election was to pull out three ballots at random and recount the ballots, even though it probably wouldn't change the election's outcome.
To do this the committee needed the actual ballots, which were in the trunk of a car being driven by Hayes' wife as the meeting was going on. She was contacted, delivered the ballots and the committee followed through on the suggestion made by Johanson, a former deputy county auditor.
The committee then presented its findings to the full board, eliminating its reference to the election as invalid. The results of the election, which remained unchanged, were then accepted by the board.
The ineligible votes were cast by a representative of the Brainerd Dispatch, which has a corporate membership, and two persons whose memberships had lapsed.
Board member Lee responded to an anonymous critic in the Brainerd Dispatch's Vox Pop who faulted the board for allowing a Morrison County resident to be elected to the board. Lee said the nominations came from the floor and members voted on the candidates.
Board President Don Samuelson said the question of the candidate's residency was raised at the annual meeting and no one challenged her right to run. He said the bylaws don't address the issue.
Board member Bill Mattson said all individual members should have full rights to run for the board regardless of where they live.
"We don't want to restrict membership to Crow Wing County," Mattson said.
Johanson agreed, noting that Cass County was "right down the road."
Samuelson said he intends to appoint a bylaws committee to look into these issues. He said the board might want to consider requiring that a majority of the board be residents of Crow Wing County.
Once the election was settled the board elected officers with board President Samuelson, Vice President Mattson and Treasurer Johanson all re-elected to their posts. Pasch, a newly elected board member, was elected secretary.
In other business, the board considered placing an entry in the Fourth of July parade and welcomed its two new members to the board.
MIKE O'ROURKE can be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.
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