Native American Press/Ojibwe News

Red Lake run-off elections on July 17th

By Clara NiiSka - July 12, 2002
Six seats on the Red Lake tribal council will be decided in run-off elections to be held July 17th (absentee voting for the twin cities area urban area will be held at the Minneapolis American Indian Center on July 15th).

Incumbent Bobby Whitefeather faces challenger and former chairman Gerald “Butch” Brun in the contest for the chairman’s seat. The other two officers’ positions were decided in the May 15th elections, with incumbent secretary Judy Roy winning over challenger Kathryn “Jody” Beaulieu by 61%, and recently-appointed incumbent treasurer Darrell G. Seki, Sr. winning by 54% of the vote.

The open seat for Ponemah district representative was also decided on May 15th, with incumbent Clifford Hardy winning by 69%.

Both representatives for the Red Lake district will be determined in the July 17th elections. Roman “Ducker” Stately, Jr. faces Donald Desjarlait in the race for the Red Lake 4-year term. Stately got about 39% of the vote in the election, and Desjarlait 16%. With only 11% of the vote, incumbent Delores Lasley did not make it to the run-offs.

Jim White and Rosie “Bee” Barrett are the two remaining contenders for the Red Lake 2-year term. The seat was left vacant by the resignation of Fabian “Nickel” Cook. Cook, part of the “fab four,” was heavily involved with former treasurer Dan King in the now heavily indebted River Road Casino expansion.

Incumbent Julius “Toady” Thunder faces Preston Graves in the run-off election for Redby District representative. Thunder got 29.5% percent of the vote in the May 15th elections, and Graves 20%.

For the Little Rock 2-year term, Richard Barrett, Sr. faces Charlie Norris. The seat was left vacant by the death of Lawrence Bedeau.

Incumbent Harlan Beaulieu and challenger William “Billy” Greene are still in the running for the Little Rock 4-year term. Beaulieu got 32% of the vote in the May 15th elections, and Greene edged over six other challengers and made it to the run-offs with 22% of the 531 Little Rock votes cast in the general election.