Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, White Earth Tribal Primary Results Released

Cindy Jackson Kingbird and former Minnesota House DFL candidate Michael Reyes advanced from a crowded Leech Lake secretary/treasurer primary Tuesday, setting up a June 9 general election to fill the seat left open when incumbent Leonard Fineday resigned on Jan. 2.

The six member bands of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe held primary elections March 31 across northern Minnesota. Under the tribe's election ordinance, candidates who clear 50 percent in the primary win their seats outright; all others send their top two finishers to a general election June 9.

Reyes, the former DFL House candidate, pulled 400 votes, or 24.5 percent, in the Leech Lake secretary/treasurer contest. In District 1, incumbent Kyle Fairbanks held a narrow edge over challenger Jonathan White, 201 votes (48.1 percent) to 176 (41.9 percent), and both advance to the June general. Incumbent Steve White needed no runoff in District 2, clearing 56 percent to win his seat outright.

At White Earth Nation, challenger Jacob McArthur led the secretary/treasurer field with 616 votes (41.1 percent), topping incumbent Michael "Mike" LaRoque's 474 votes (31.6 percent) in a six-candidate race. In District 1, representing the Rice Lake area, incumbent Henry G. Fox and challenger Andy "Jack" Auginaush advance. In District 2 around Mahnomen, where incumbent Eugene Sommers declined to seek reelection, Alrick "Son" Accobee topped the field with 270 votes.

At Mille Lacs, incumbent Secretary/Treasurer Sheldon Boyd Sr. cleared 61.59 percent of the vote to win his seat without a runoff. Band members will return to the polls June 9 to vote in Nay-Ah-Shing School Board races as well.

The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe is headquartered in Cass Lake.