Chippewa County supervisors elect Jason Bergeron vice chair; executive committee seat filled after multiple ballots

The Chippewa County Board of Supervisors elected Supervisor Jason Bergeron vice chair on a secret ballot during the board's June 10 meeting. The board then held a separate, recorded vote to fill the at-large seat on the county executive committee created by Bergeron's elevation.

Nominations for vice chair came from Supervisor Flater (for Bergeron) and Supervisor Shoobridge (for Joel Seidlitz). Both nominees spoke briefly to the board before the secret ballots were collected. Supervisor Jason Bergeron, who identified himself as representing District 7, said he has "a desire to serve the public" and stressed keeping debate factual and nonpersonal. Supervisor Joel Seidlitz, identified as representing District 9, said he wants "everybody's voices to be heard."

After the secret-ballot count, the clerk announced Supervisor Seidlitz had received five votes and Supervisor Bergeron 13 votes; the clerk declared Bergeron the winner by a majority of ballots cast and sworn him in as vice chair. The board chair had earlier read the election procedure, which required nominations, optional candidate statements of up to five minutes, and a secret ballot requiring a majority of votes cast of supervisors present.

With Bergeron moving into the vice chair post (which carries an automatic seat on the executive committee), the board opened a separate nomination and recorded vote to fill the resulting vacancy on the executive committee. Nominations for the at-large seat included Supervisor Lotz and Supervisor Charles Bomar. The recorded voting process required signatures and district numbers on ballots; several ballots were found invalid during the first two rounds because they lacked a readable name or required signature. After additional rounds and replacement ballots, Supervisor Bomar received 10 votes to Lotz's 8 in the final count and was declared elected to the executive committee.

The board discussed procedural points during voting, including whether the required majority should be a majority of valid ballots cast or a majority of supervisors present; clerks and the chair determined the proper threshold required re-balloting until a candidate received a majority of supervisors present. Chair and clerk oversight, volunteer ballot collectors, and use of provided ballot forms were noted during the process.

The elections followed the board's established procedures and were conducted while other agenda business continued. No formal motions to postpone the vice-chair vote were seconded, and the board proceeded with nominations and balloting as described.