Primary Election Today for Red Lake School Board

Ten Red Lake Indian Reservation residents filed for three 4-year Red Lake School Board Positions that will begin in January 2013.

Up for re-election are Nicole Desjarlait and Michael Barrett whose terms end in January 2013. Tom Barrett Sr., whose term is also up in 2013, did not file for re-election after serving two 4-year terms on the board. Nicole Desjarlait and Michael Barrett are in their first 4-year terms.

Eight other candidates filed and are Robert McClain, Larry Vanwert, Chris Jourdain, Rodney Prentice, Darwin Sumner, Marilyn Mountain, Tom Barrett Jr., and Trisha Prentice.

A Primary Election will be held in August 14, 2012 to narrow the field down to six candidates, of which 3 will be selected in the November 6, 2012 election.

The Polls open at 7 AM at all 4 Community Centers on the Red Lake Indian Reservation--Red Lake, Redby, Ponemah and Little Rock--and are open until 8 PM.

A Special School Board Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 16, 2012 to certify the results.

With the passing of Red Lake School Board President, Arnold "Shiekie" Pemberton on August 9, 2012, the School Board will appoint a member of the community as soon as possible to serve on the Board until a Special Election can be held for his unexpired term. Pemberton's term would have ended in January 2015.

According to 10. M.S. 123B.09 BOARDS OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, Subd. 5. Appointments to fill vacancies. Any other vacancy in a board must be filled by board appointment at a regular or special meeting. The appointment shall be evidenced by a resolution entered in the minutes and shall continue until an election is held under this subdivision. All elections to fill vacancies shall be for the unexpired term. If the vacancy occurs before the first day to file affidavits of candidacy for the next school district general election and more than two years remain in the unexpired term, a special election shall be held in conjunction with the school district general election. The appointed person shall serve until the qualification of the successor elected to fill the unexpired part of the term at that special election. If the vacancy occurs on or after the first day to file affidavits of candidacy for the school district general election, or when less than two years remain in the unexpired term, there shall be no special election to fill the vacancy and the appointed person shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term and until a successor is elected and qualifies at the school district election.

Arnold Pemberton Sr. was first elected to the Red Lake School Board in 1973, and except for 2 years when he lost his re-election bid to Mary Sumner, has served until the present time--a total of almost 38 years. He has served as President of the School Board the majority of that time.

Funeral Services for Pemberton will be at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 14, at the St. Antipas Episcopal Church, in Redby, Minn.