WE certifies 27 candidates for April 4 primary

By Vicki Gerdes

February 12, 2006 at 11:00 PM

A slate of 27 candidates has been certified for the upcoming 2006 White Earth tribal elections. Three positions will be filled this year, including council seats for Districts 1 and 2 as well as secretary-treasurer.

Incumbent secretary/treasurer Franklin "Bud" Heisler, District 1 committee person Irene "Rene" Auginaush and District 2 committee person Anthony "Tony" Wadena have all filed for re-election; each will be challenged by a full slate of candidates.

A total of nine challengers have filed for Heisler's position, including John B. Buckanaga, Lucille "Teedo" Sullivan Silk, Robert Durant, Geraldine "Fuzzy" Bellanger, Darryl "Boone" Wadena, Teresa A. "Terri" Thompson, Lori "Queenie" Gellings, Elmer "Gene" Tibbetts and Kenneth R. Fox, Jr.

Wadena, meanwhile, will also face off against nine challengers -- including the man he unseated from the tribal council in the 2002 elections, Terrance "Amik" Burnette. The others who have filed for the Dist. 2 position are Robert "Hud" Webster, Joe Bush, Jr., Terrance "Terry" Tibbetts, DelAllen "Del" Bellanger, Monte Maibori, Terry Roy, Larry Olson and Harold Alvarado.

Auginaush will be challenged by Henry G. Fox, Steven "Punky" Clark, Alfred E. Fox, Don Herchell Goodwin, Nathan LaFriniere and Mary Jane Beaulieu. An eighth candidate did file, but was not certified because he did not complete his background paperwork in time for the Feb. 3 filing deadline, according to Gary Padrta of the White Earth public relations office.

With multiple candidates filing for each position, White Earth will now hold a primary election on April 4. The top two vote-getters for each of the three open positions will advance to the general election on June 13.

For more information about the upcoming tribal elections, call the White Earth public relations office at 218-983-3285, Ext. 1206.

By Vicki Gerdes

A reporter at Detroit Lakes Newspapers since relocating to the community in October 2000, Vicki was promoted to Community News Lead for the Detroit Lakes Tribune and Perham Focus on Jan. 1, 2022. She has covered pretty much every "beat" that a reporter can be assigned, from county board and city council to entertainment, crime and even sports. Born and raised in Madelia, Minnesota, she is a graduate of Hamline University, from which she earned a bachelor's degree in English literature (writing concentration). You can reach her at vgerdes@dlnewspapers.com.