July 08, 2013 –
MAYETTA: There is still time for registered voters to send in their mail-in ballot vote for the upcoming Gaming/Ethics Commission Election slated for July 27 at 9 a.m. at the Bingo Hall.
Paul Vega, member services coordinator, reported to the News today that 539 ballots had been received so far. Registered voters have until 9 a.m. on the day of the election to get their ballots postmarked through the Mayetta Post Office and then they will be counted in an open meeting of the tribal membership at the Bingo Hall.
Seven candidates have filed for two seats on the Gaming Commission and no candidates filed for the Ethics Commission. Rebecca J (Shopteese-Thomas) Harman and Gary Mitchell are competing for Gaming Commission position #1 and Marlena Jessepe-Jordan, Larry Mzhickteno, Jona (Potts) Rupnicki, Adriana Wahwasuck and Jancita Warrington are vying for Gaming Commission position #2.
Profiles and photos of the candidates were published in the summer edition of the Potawatomi News that was mailed to tribal households on June 21. They are also posted on this website at http://www.pbpindiantribe.com/candidates.aspx
Ballots were mailed on June 12 and must be returned in the pre-addressed return envelope that was sent in the mailing packet with the ballot. Please allow one to two weeks for mailing back your ballot.
If no candidate wins by a majority vote plus one, there will be a run-off election that will held on August 24. The two candidates who receive the highest number of votes in the first election will face each other in the run-off election.
The Member Services Department is located on the lower level of the Government Center. Arlene Lingo, Sherri Landis and Sara Gartenmayer are on the Elections Board. For more information on the election call Member Services at 785.966.3934 or call toll free at 877.715.6789.