Mille Lacs Band Election

Two members of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe will compete in the election for chief executive on June 10th. Current Executive Melanie Benjamin has held the post since 2000 and is running for her third term. Challenger Marge Anderson gained enough votes in the primary. The Brainerd Dispatch reports that Anderson was the band's first female chief executive and was elected in 1992 and re-elected in 1996. Current executive Benjamin came within four votes in the primary of being elected to a third term. If primary candidates in tribal elections get more than 50% of the vote, they win the position without a general election.