Marge Anderson, longtime chief executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, won a special election this week and will return as chief executive of the band.
No recount is needed.
Results, according to the band, were: Anderson, 302; Mushkoob, 83; Larry Nickaboine, 82. Six other candidates also received votes.
Sixty-two ballots were disqualified. According to Minnesota Chippewa Tribe election guidelines, ballots with write-in candidates are automatically disqualified.
The special election was called after Melanie Benjamin was removed from the job in October, following allegations that she had used tribal money for personal use.
According to the band’s biography of Anderson, she “has served more than 20 years in the Band’s tribal government, including serving as District I Representative from 1976-1987 and Secretary/Treasurer from 1987-1991. Anderson was appointed Chief Executive in 1991 after Art Gahbow died while in office. She was elected to the post in 1992 and again in 1996. During her tenure as Chief Executive, Anderson led the development of Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley and the rebuilding of the reservation through new schools, clinics, community centers, housing, a water treatment plant, and other infrastructure.”
