RLHS Project Preserve sponsors Red Lake Tribal Chairperson Candidate Forum in Red Lake

By Michael Barrett

Red Lake Net News

      The Red Lake High School Project Preserve Class of 2003-04 sponsored a Meet The Chairperson Candidate Forum on Wednesday, April 28, 2004, at 7 p.m. at the Red Lake High School.

      All four Red Lake Tribal Chairman candidates were at the debate, which saw about 100 people there to listen. Those candidates were Bobby Whitefeather, Floyd “Buck” Jourdain, Roman “Ducker” Stately, and Ramona Desjarlait.

      Red Lake Tribal Elections are scheduled for May 19, 2004 this year and normally would have saw just 4 representative seats up for election–one from the districts of Red Lake, Redby, Ponemah and Little Rock. But with the passing of former Tribal Chairman Gerald “Butch” Brun while in office, a special election for the Chairman position is on the ballot. The election for chairman would have originally taken place in May 2006.

      Gerald Brun defeated former Chairman Bobby Whitefeather in 2002, and Hereditary Chief George “Billy” King was appointed by the Tribal Council to act as Chairman until a successor is duly elected. King did not run for the Chairman’s position and has served in that acting capacity since his appointment.

      Seeking office for the special 2-year term of Chairman–with the Regular Election of that office set for May of 2006–is former Chairman Bobby Whitefeather, who has served as Chairman for two terms, as Secretary one term, and Treasure for one term.

      Floyd “Buck” Jourdain is also seeking the office, having came in a very close third in the elections of 2002, next to Whitefeather. In that election, Whitefeather and Brun were in a run-off election, with Brun unseating former Chairman Whitefeather.

      A newcomer to the Chairman race, but no newcomer to the Tribal Council, is long time Red Lake Representative Roman “Ducker” Stately. Stately was first elected as a Red Lake Representative in 1978 and served until he was defeated by Delores Lasley in 1998, then defeated Donald Desjarlait in the 2002 Regular Election.

      Another newcomer to the Chairman’s race is Red Lake Family and Children’s Services Director, Ramona Desjarlait. Desjarlait is the first woman to ever run for the position of Chairman, a position held by men since the Red Lake Constitution was formed.

      Coordinated by Diane Schwantz with the students, there was a welcome and introduction of candidates, followed by 5 minute presentations of their individual platforms and why each thought they would be the best suited for the job.

      That would be followed by a question and answer session which consisted of 5 questions, where each candidate had 3 minutes to answer, then another session where each would draw a question and again have 3 minutes to answer.

      Overall each candidate gave some good presentations, it was fair, and each had important issues on their agendas.

      Red Lake Net News had planned on a full detailed account presented by each candidate, but because some things picked up well and others didn’t on tape, in all fairness to each one, will not provide any of their direct comments.

      For a brief summary of each candidate’s presentations and answers to some questions, read Molly Miron’s story in the Bemidji Pioneer, which can also be viewed on Red Lake Net News (rlnn.com).

Red Lake Net News apologizes for not being able to publish each candidates presentations in their entirety.