Incumbents advance in Leech Lake primary

CASS LAKE – Voters in the Leech Lake Tribal Council primary narrowed the field of candidates Tuesday for two positions.

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Chairman Arthur “Archie” LaRose collected nearly 36 percent of votes cast during Tuesday’s primary election. LaRose and Carri Jones, who received nearly 23 percent of votes, now advance to the June 12 general election.

Eugene “Ribs” Whitebird, the incumbent District III committeeman, also advanced, collecting about 35 percent of votes. LeRoy Staples-Fairbanks III will join him in the general election.

Staples-Fairbanks received nearly 31 percent of the ballots cast for the position.

For chairman, the primary election vote totals were: LaRose, 800, Carri Jones, 506, Roger Aitken, 349, Michael Bongo, 190, Veronica Veaux, 139, Delmar L. Jones III, 128, Richard Schulman Sr., 39, Sally Fineday, 37, William “Bill” Butcher, 29, Eugene “Gene” Rock, 16, and Enriqueta “Ketta” Flores, 4.

In the District III race, the vote totals were: Whitebird, 532, Staples-Fairbanks, 472, Robert “Robbie” Budreau Sr., 121, Martin “Mutt” Robinson, 94, Esther C. Humphrey, 72, Michael Reyes, 68, Christopher D. Finn, 64, Cynthia Madigan, 53, Skip Lyons, 31, Ron Hare, 12, and John Johnson, 11.

Candidates have until Friday to request a recount.