When people heard "Super Chief" Darrell "Chip" Wadena was running for chairman of the White Earth Ojibwe Tribe of Minnesota, some got a little upset.

The reason is that Wadena was convicted of stealing more than $400,000 from the tribe but to this day, he says he's done nothing wrong. "They say I took all this money, but I don't know where it's at," he tells The Minneapolis Star Tribune. He has failed to pay back the money he owes to the tribe in a timely manner.

That hasn't stopped people from supporting his bid for re-election. In the recent primary, he took the most votes after being cleared by the tribal council to run.

His opponent is former secretary-treasurer Erma Vizenor. It was her testimony that helped put Wadena behind bars. Her supporters are steamed that he's in the race. "Would the U.S. government hire John Dillinger or Al Capone to take over the treasury?" a supporter told the paper. "Why can't the people of White Earth see Chip Wadena for the con man he is?"

The election is June 8.

Get the Story:
Wadena works for political rebirth (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 5/3)
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Related Stories:
'Super Chief' Wadena nears re-election at White Earth (03/31)
'Super Chief' Wadena on ballot again at White Earth (02/24)