Seki wins second term as Red Lake Chairman
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Chairman Darrell Seki will lead the Red Lake Band of Chippewa for another four years after defeating Floyd "Buck" Jourdain in Wednesday's run-off election.
According to the official tally, Seki won by 234 votes, which was seen by some as an upset.
Jourdain led the tribe for more than a decade, before losing to Seki four years ago. And he had momentum coming into this election. He came out ahead of Seki in a preliminary vote in May. He also took most of yesterday's off-reservation votes.
But Seki is known for his traditional native values, and found support among tribe members living on Red Lake, especially the Ponemah district, where he was raised.
A handful of other government positions were also decided in the run-off election. Former economic development director Sam Strong won a seat as tribal secretary.
Annette Johnson kept her seat as tribal treasurer.
The newly elected government will be sworn in at a meeting of the tribal council next month.
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