Jourdain reelected at Red Lake

Thousands headed to the polls again as the chairman held off tribal secretary Judy Roy in a runoff

 

By Terry Collins/Dalton Walker
Star Tribune

 

RED LAKE, MINN. - After a two-month wait, Floyd (Buck) Jourdain retained his post -- by 71 votes -- as Red Lake tribal chairman Wednesday in a runoff election.

Jourdain defeated former tribal secretary Judy Roy 51 percent to 49 percent for the top spot, according to preliminary results.

Out of 3,377 total votes, Jourdain received 1,724 while Roy got 1,653. Roy won among voters on the reservation, while Jourdain came out ahead in absentee votes.

Jourdain said late Wednesday that he attributes his victory to "good strong campaigning."

"It goes to show that you can still win with a clean campaign," he said. "We can hold our heads high knowing that we took the high road. This win speaks in terms of what the reservation wants to see, and that's a collective tribal council."

Jourdain tipped his hat to Roy.

"Her campaign was one heck of an effort," he said.

Roy could not be reached to comment Wednesday night.

The two had been the top vote-getters among four candidates in the May 17 general election. Jourdain had received 47 percent of the vote, 3 percentage points short of the 50 needed. Roy had captured 29 percent of the vote.

Thousands of Red Lake tribal members also cast ballots for tribal secretary and four representative seats. Katherine (Jody) Beaulieu defeated Don Cook Sr. for secretary 1,970 votes to 1,370. Donald Desjarlait, Thomas (Jambi) Westbrook, Gary Nelson and William (Billy) Green were elected representatives.

All of the tribe's adult enrolled members were eligible to vote in the runoff election, which came more than 16 months after a shooting episode left 10 people dead -- seven at the high school -- including the shooter himself.

'I'm here to vote'

On Wednesday, Pam Pierce said she wasn't about to miss her chance to make her vote count.

She had wanted to during the tribal elections two months ago, but her absentee ballot arrived at her home in Duluth too late.

"Not this time around," said Pierce, 52, who has since moved to the northern Minnesota reservation community of Ponemah. "I'm here to vote ...

"In person!"

Polling sites in the communities of Ponemah, Red Lake, Little Rock and Redby had a steady stream of voters Wednesday -- young and old alike.

They undoubtedly saw a smattering of colorful campaign signs for Jourdain ("Strength and Honor") and Roy ("We can tear down or we can build up") spread across the reservation.

Several vehicles creatively decorated with the names of candidates also sped up and down Hwy. 1, the main drag.

Misty Dow, 22, of Ponemah, said she had forgotten that Wednesday was election day. She quickly spread the word to family members before getting a ride to the nearby Ponemah community center to cast her vote.

Dow said that four years ago she was indifferent about voting. Now, her main concern is making sure the youth become a top priority.

"I want there to be more activities instead of them running around trying to be gangstas," Dow said. "They are our future."

Lydell Roberts, 30, also of Little Rock, kept assuring his three young daughters that he was going to vote.

He said he hopes the candidates back up their talk.

"I'm living the rez life," Roberts said. "I'm optimistic most of the time ... because of what happened in the past, more of an eye is on us.

"The world is watching to see how we recover from [last year's] tragedy."

Rose Hinden, 65, also was on her way to the polls. The Little Rock resident said she was undecided on whom to vote for as chairman because both candidates impressed her.

"I just hope they do what they say they're going to do," Hinden said. "What they promise to do."

Metro voters

On Monday, Red Lake members who live in the Twin Cities area were allowed to vote at the Minneapolis American Indian Center. Several hundred Red Lakers live in the metro area.

Williamette Hardy-Morrison, 51, who voted Monday, started choking up when she said it was important to make her vote count.

"I used to brag to other cultures," Hardy-Morrison said as her eyes began to water. "I know what's really going on up there. A lot of people can't really speak up.

"We're tired of being oppressed."