Red Lake Nation enters busy election season with eight seats in play

Thursday, April 12, 2018  

It's election season for the Red Lake Nation, with 39 candidates certified for eight tribal leadership positions.

Leading the list is Chairman Darrell Seki, Sr., who is seeking a second term in office for the Minnesota-based tribe. He first won election in 2014, after serving as treasurer for 12 years.

"As tribal chairman, I have always emphasized that one does not succeed alone in tribal government," Seki said in his campaign announcement. "To make things work, it takes collaboration, cooperation, communication, commitment and trust."

Seki's message is being put to the test as he faces four challengers. Candidates include Floyd "Buck" Jourdain, who is seeking to return to the tribe's top seat after serving as chairman for 10 years.

"I want to get our nation moving in the right direction again and focus more on our band members' immediate needs instead of expensive projects that over-extend the band's resources," said Jourdain, who lost to Seki back in 2014.

The three other candidates seeking the chairman's post are Vince Brown, Jim White and Williamette Hardy-Morrison.

Five candidates are also in the running for secretary. There is no incumbent in the race, as Don Cook, Sr., passed away last year while holding the seat.

The tribal council appointed Darwin Sumner, a hereditary Red Lake chief, to hold the seat pending a new election. He's decided to run for a full term.

"To be honest, I've grown to like the job," said Summer, who plans to push for economic diversification as well as focus on Red Lake youth if he secures the position.

Also certified to run for secretary are Sam Strong, Tim Sumner, Michael Barrett and Donovan "Mikinaakoons" Sather.

Tim Sumner currently serves as a commissioner for Beltrami County in Minnesota. His district there includes parts of the reservation.

"Part of my duties include representing my constituents of Red Lake," Sumner said on Facebook. "I'd love to continue representing them on the tribal council."

In other seats, Treasurer Annette Johnson is seeking re-election. Three others are challenging her: Cheryl Marie Thomas, Chad Prentice and LeNae Pemberton.

Five district seats -- one each for Red Lake, Redby, and Ponemah, along with two from Little Rock -- are also up for grabs. The recent passing of Richard William Barrett, Sr., who held one of the Little Rock seats, means someone will be chosen to serve the remaining two years of what would have been his term.

Election day is May 16. If a candidate receives 50 percent of the vote plus one, he or she takes the seat.

Otherwise, the top two candidates will advance to a run-off that is expected to take place in mid- to late-July.