Candidate Fair To Be Held at Seven Clans Red Lake

The Red Lake Political Education Committee (RLPEC), a tribal non-profit, and non-partisan organization, will be hosting a Candidate Fair on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 from 5:00 to 9:00 PM. The Fair will be held at the Red Lake Seven Clans Casino and Event Center, located twenty minutes north of Bemidji on Highway #89.

All candidates for local and state-wide office (Senate District 2 and Beltrami County) who would represent the Red Lake Indian Reservation have confirmed. Red Lake Nation (Reservation) alone has over 2900 registered voters.

Candidates who have confirmed attendance include: John Melbye and Diana Sweeney for 9th Judicial District Judge; Rod Skoe and Dennis Moser for State Senator; Roger Erickson and David Hancock for State Representative; and Quentin Fairbanks and Tim Sumner for Beltrami County Commissioner.

The event is informal. It begins at 5:00 p.m. with a half hour mixer. Chile, fry bread, and beverages, at no cost or free-will donation, will be provided for attendees.

"Judicial candidates will have about an hour Question and Answer period followed by the County Commissioner candidates with the same time allotment. The four candidates for state offices will share about 90 minutes,", said Red Lake PEC co-chair Michelle Paquin Johnson.

“We hope to draw both Indian and non-Indian participants, from Senate Districts 2, and 5, to share in our Chile and Fry Bread”, said RLPEC co-chair Gary Fuller with a smile. “We expect local and tribal elected officials, political activists, and interested voters seeking information about candidates just prior to the Minnesota general election. We expect this to be very informal and fun,” he said.

The Candidate Fair is sponsored by the Red Lake Tribal Council, Seven Clans Casino Red Lake, the Red Lake Political Education Committee, and the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. Miigwech to several off reservation parties who donated nearly $500 in support of RLPEC’s efforts. Special thanks then to: 1st National Bank of Bemidji, Lorraine Cecil, Carolyn Jacobs, Steve Engel, Roger Erickson, Joanne Fieldseth, and Ev Arnold.

RL PEC Mission Statement: The Red Lake Political Education Committee (RLPEC) was formed in 1996 to educate and register Red Lake voters. We take pride in being the oldest, most active, and effective Political Education Committee in Minnesota’s Indian Country.

The purpose of this corporation (RLPEC) is:

• to support and conduct nonpartisan research, education, and informational activities to increase public awareness about their right to vote and participate in elections.

• to increase voter participation in tribal, state, and federal elections within the membership of the Red Lake band of Chippewa Indians and;

• to increase voters knowledge of political and social issues.