The Native American Press (Bemidji, Minnesota), 1992-09-11

              Native Americans can Influence 5th & 7th Congressional Races
By Gary Blair & Mel Rasmussen
September 15th is fast approaching
and the candidates are lining up for
the big finale called the Primary
election. For some candidates in the
state this is a big one. For other
candidates it is just a matter of
formality. In all parts ofthe state there
are candidates seeking an answer to
the outcome of the upcoming vote.
The races in the 5th and the 7th
congressional districts are important
to the Native American community.
Both of these races can be influenced
by the Native American vote.
In the 5th Congressional district race,
Ms. Lisa Neibauer Stall is opposing
incumbent, U.S. Congressman Martin
Sabo, in the upcoming primary
election. Ms. Stall, says she plans to
upset 14year incumbent MartinSabo
in the Sept. 15th primary election.
Stall says one way or the other there
will be a Democrat running in the 5th
district come November 3rd. She said,
"He (Sabo) only received the party's
nomination by seven more votes then
she attained." She saidthe otherperson
also running against Sabo is James
Therkelson,buthehasnotbeen active.
So far, she said, "Sabo has spent
$220,000 from January to August
15, 1992. Whereas, "I have only
spent $12,000 and I don't accept
corporate donations." Most recently
she said, "he spent another $15,000
on a voter survey just to see how close
I was.He is scared."
Stall said she would like to see
American Indians vote in record
numbers on Tuesday. She said, "Sabo
has done more than to just kill the
purchase ofthe Little Earth Housing
Project (which would have stabilized
housing for American Indians living
there). He has helped create the mess
we are now having in this country.
Wenowhavea4trilliondollar national
debt. Sabo is being supported by
contractors who build for the military.
I want to cut our 300 billion dollar
military budget in half. Fifty billion
could go towards reducing the national
debt and the remaining 100 billion
should go to help our people who are
homeless and living in poverty. We
don't have any national threat from
Russia anymore or the Soviet Bloc
countries we don't need such a large
military budget."
When asked why American Indians
should vote for her on Tuesday, Stall
said, "Basically, I support treaty
rights such as spear fishing and I am
against the use of Indian logos by
sports teams." She says she is not a
polished politician. She admits she
has more to learn about the issues
affecting American Indians. She said,
Shirley Cain, who is American Indian
and who is on her campaign
committee, reminds her of this every
now and then. But, she said, "I do
have a background in community
organizing and business finance.
Recently, U.S. Senator Paul
Wellstone, endorsed Sabo. That was
before he even looked at all the
concerns surrounding Sabo's record."
Stall also talked about the
Democratic, Party's handling of
poverty in the city of Minneapolis.
"Yes I know they have not done a
good job in this area and that's why
American Indians and other people
need to get out and vote this Tuesday."
Attempts were made to obtain
statements from both the Sabo and
Therkelsen camps but there was no
response from either campaign.
Currently in the 7th Congressional
District, all eyes are focusing on the
campaigns of Ms. Lorelei Kraft and
incumbent Mr. Collin Peterson. Mr.
Peterson is being seriously challenged
by his opponent for the DFL slot on
the ticket and by IR endorsed
candidate, Bernie Omann and IR
challenger, Ms. Phyllis Onsgard..
Ms. Onsgard was a IR candidate 2
years ago and had been a worker in
then Congressman Stangeland's
Moorhead office. Her challenge during
this election was crushed by the IR
Party and they went on to support
Stangeland. He later lost to Peterson.
According to statewide politicos, Ms.
Onsgard's rude treatment by her party
has not been forgotten.
Her contest against Bernie Omann
on the IR ticket will generate interest
and observations because ofthe past
activities. According to sources, the
public remembers what occurred and
this is becoming a quiet, untapped
source of support for her campaign.
Her IR battle with Bemie Omann
could sway and pull votes from the
Kraft/Peterson contest.
Different sources predict different
outcomes of the electoral contests
across the state. Each political party
predicts that their candidates will be
winners and that such darkhorses as
Kraft are out of the running. It is
apparent that this election will be won
by the candidate who turns out the
vote. The viable candidate will have
to break the malaise and apathy
prevailing in the state and across the
country.
According to Ms. Lorraine Cecil,
7th District DFL Chair, the different
polling offices and voter ID
phonebanks indicate that endorsed
incumbents will win on a statewide
basis. In the 7th District race, it
would be possible to believe this
scenario if there were only one
candidate on the ticket. However,
with the Kraft challenge and
because of the incumbents past
record, this may not be true.
Peterson ran against Stangeland
on two separate occasions and both
won and lost these elections by
very small margins. In the 1990
primary Aden Stangeland beat
Collin Peterson with only a 1%
margin. In the general election
Peterson beat Stangeland by only
7% ofthe vote cast. In that election,
ofthe total voting population, 12%
did not cast any ballots. The win
margin is lower than portrayed.
Peterson's past victories did not
amount to a landslide vote.
At the DFL 7th District
convention, Peterson barely
achieved party endorsement.
There were 4 ballots cast before
Peterson received enough
delegate support to receive
endorsement. This endorsement
margin was by only seven- tenths
of a percent. The reason for this
can be found in Peterson's voting
record and activities. Concern
for his gag rule votes and his
position of being pro-life have
made him vulnerable. The
interpretation of his position on
women's rights and his refusal
to honor the issues and party
platforms have raised doubts
about his candidacy.
After the endorsement he
spoke out and voted on
legislation that was contrary to
Party platform. At this point Kraft
came to life and the race was on.
The Peterson race is directly
tied into the race between Tad
Jude and Jerry Sikorski in the
metropolitan region. Reports
indicate that the group,
Minnesota Citizens Concerned
for Life (MCCL), is dumping
vast amounts of time, energy,
money and support into the Jude
campaign as they proceed to
attack the Sikorski record. This
group feels that this race is more
important than peterso
feels he is going to lose.
According to political sources,
Peterson approached MCCL and
sought their help for money and
voter lists. He was denied their
support or endorsement.
In the different county
commissioner races at counties
surrounding the reservations there
is also activity. There are contests
between several splinter groups
and the interests of the Native
American population will be
affected by these elections. Political
insiders have expressed the opinion
that if the communities ever came
together as a block of voters they
can change the outcome of many
races in their areas.
The statistics show that the
Native American population has
not participated in the process as
much as they could. For tribal
elections the national average is a
86% turnout to vote. For the
primary and November elections
this number drops to around 20%.
Political insiders have stated that
this bloc of people can control and
swing the election for many
politicians. There is a need for the
Native American population to
become involved with the political
process. Because of this
undeveloped bloc vote, local,
county, and state officials have
never feared these political units.
However, if this population ever
came out, there would be a major
shift in the political process and
recognition of their impact in
the state.
Insiders again stated that the
need to vote is a right of all ofthe
people. It was felt that the
involvement of the Native
American community is a silent
sleeping giant that is yet to be
awakened. When it does come
to life it will be a force to be
reckoned with and respected.
By and For the Native American Community
#*?<»>
The
pre&
Native
American
Press
We support Equal Opportunity For All People
A Weekly Publication
"oundeatin* 1991
Volume 2 Issue 18
September 11, 1992
HSVHi
~r*pyright, The Native American Press, 1992
Shirley Cain New Legal Counsel For Red Lake Council
People enjoying the Wee-Gitchie-Ne-Me-E-Dim (Big Dance) Pow wow in Cass Lake last Memorial weekend.
Deer pledges fight against special
interests in bid to oust Klug
By Mel Rasmussen
Shirley Cain, a Red Lake tribal
member and past resident ofthe Red
Lake region, was recently hired by the
Law Office of Edwards, Edwards &
Bodine of Duluth, Minnesota.
This firm has acted as legal counsel
forthe Tribe foroverfortyyears. Counsel
wasseekmgaNativeAmericanattorney
to work for them and who would be
knowledgeable and understand the
issues that concerned the Tribe. The
Red Lake Tribal Council was solicited
for names of qualified tribal members
who would meet this criteria and would
be willing to work for them. The Tribe
heartily recommended Ms. Cain and
were greatly honored to have her hired
by their legal counsel.
Ms. Cain has received an offer for
employment and will start her new
career on October 1,1992, with this law
firm. Her areas of expertise and
involvement with the tribe will cover
areas relating to Indian Law, Real Estate
Taxes, Bankruptcy, Business
Incorporations, Probate Law and other
general practice areas. Ms. Cain has
begunhertransitiontothisnewposition
and has been invited to attend Tribal
Council meetings to bring her up to date
on current issues.
Tribal Chairman Brun of Red Lake
stated that he is very pleased with her
being selectedby counsel. Healso stated
that Ms. Cain grew up on the reservation
and spent her childhood years gaining
knowledge and understanding of the
life and related problems endemic to
reservation life. The Chairman felt that
it was important that a band member be
honored for her accomplishments and
is delighted to see her coming home to
help in this manner.
Ms. Cain attended school at Red Lake
High Schoolbut graduated inMoorhead.
She received her Bachelor of Arts from
Metropolitan StateUniversity. Ms. Cain
then attended William Mitchell Law
School and received her law degree in
1988 and was admitted to the Minnesota
Bar in 1991.
Ms. Cain clerked for such organizations
as the Anishinabe Legal Services, Ramsey
County Public Defender's office, and the
Hennepin County District Court Ms. Cain
was a past member of the Minneapolis
Review Board forover three years and has
beeninvolved with the issuesofmonitoring
the Minneapolis Police Department and
its internal investigations.
Ms. Cain stated, "I feel that this has
been a lifelong dream come true for me to
work with my tribe. This is a good
opportunity to serve my community in a
good way." Ms. Cain will reside in Duluth
but will be at Red Lake constantly to
oversee the needs ofthe tribe's legal issues.
Itisimr^rtantthatNauveAmeriauisfrom
across the country honor and support this
young woman She is just one of many
success stories that are corning to light on
Turtle Island Welcome aboard, Ms. Cain
and Megwetch
Milwaukee, Wis. (AP) - A
Menominee Indian leader who
defeated a longtime state lawmaker
in the Democratic primary says she
will continue to fight special
interests as she attempts to oust
Wisconsin's only freshman
congressman.
Ada Deer on Tuesday defeated
state Rep. David Clarenbach, 38,
who has represented Madison in the
Assembly since 1974. She had
criticized Clarenbach for accepting
money from special-interest groups.
At a victory party, she said she
would use the same strategy against
2nd District Republican Rep. Scott
Klug, who in 1990 defeated
Democratic Rep. Robert
Kastenmeier, a 32-year veteran
congressman.
"He has lunch and raises
$100,000," Ms. Deer said of Klug.
"I'm for term limits— his."
Klug raised $242,741 in the first
six months of this year, including
$43,414 from political action
committees, according to reports
filed with the Federal Election
Commission.
"She's proved to everyone what I
have known for years, she's a
forceful advocate for the progressive
causes we share," Clarenbach said
of Ms. Deer. "She's made a believer
out of a lot of people."
A Janesville builder defeated an
Evansville sausagemaker for the
GOP nomination in the 1st District,
and a La Crosse businessman turned
away two opponents for the
Democratic nomination in the 3rd.
In the Milwaukee area, a
Democratic state senator and a
Republican interior designer won
their parties' nominations and will
compete in the general election for
the seat vacated by U.S. Rep. Jim
Moody, who lost his bid Tuesday for
the U.S. Senate.
Moody's seat is the only one
vacant in Wisconsin. None of the
eight congressmen seeking
re-election faced a primary
challenge.
In the 1st District, Mark Neumann
of Janesville defeated Kenneth
Elmer of Evansville for the
Republican nomination to face U.S.
Rep. Les Aspin, D-Wis.
Unofficial returns showed
Neumann, 38, had 16,543 votes to
Elmer's 3,451, with 257 of 258
precincts reporting.
Neumann said at a post-election
party that he senses a strong
anti-incumbent mood in Wisconsin
and hopes to win an upset over Aspin
in November.
Like Ms. Deer, Neumann does not
accept political action committee
money. In the first six months of the
year, Aspin received $102,775 from
PACs, records show.
Aspin, 54, chairman of the House
Armed Services Committee, has
represented the district for 22 years.
The district spans the state's southern
tier of counties from Kenosha and
Racine west into Green.
In the 2nd District, unofficial
returns showed Ms. Deer, 57, led
Clarenbach 41,637 to 27,954 with
379 of 393 precincts reporting.
A former chairwoman of the
Menominee Nation, Ms. Deer led the
Menominee's battle in the 1970s to
return to tribal status.
Klug, 39, is a former investigative
reporter and television anchorman.
The district, centered in Madison,
includes the heart of south-central
Wisconsin.
NortllWOOdS   Foriim  (Political musings and commentary from the North Country)
By Mel Rasmussen
Get out the vote. Get out the
vote... This is the message of the
year and of the future. Without
your input into the system there
cannot be change. The argument
that my vote doesn't count is a
falsehood. What it shows is the
apathy and indifference of the
individual conscience. Being
indifferent to voting is a symptom
of moral and social weakness. What
would your mother think of this? I
think, she would be disappointed
in this inaction.
The primary election is on
September 15th, less than a week
away. In Indian country, it is
important to note that by your active
participation in the voting process,
you can affect change in your
precincts and districts. The simple
fact is that in your precincts you
have a bloc vote that is capable to
elect anyone you so desire. An
example of this is in the county
commissioner candidacy of Darrell
Auginash of Red Lake. If we vote
as a bloc this gentleman could be
elected to the County Board. This
would be a first in this county and
the state.
Why is this important? Because
we have had no representation in
the electoral process for a number
of years. Statistics indicate that for
Tribal elections the voter turnout
is around 86%. For the primary
and November general elections
we drop to a whopping 20% ofthe
Indian population getting out to
vpte. These statistics indicate voter
apathy and reflect the malaise that
currently exists in the population.
You cannot affect change by
whining and crying and sitting on
your hands.
The registration process for
voting is very simple in the primary.
You must be a resident ofthe state
for 30 days. You can register at the
polling place by producing
identification, such as a letter
addressed to you or a drivers license
or you can have someone vouch
for you. All of this takes less than
ten minutes, including casting your
ballot. I don't believe that ten
minutes of your time to vote is a
hardship for anyone.
I recently talked to the Red Lake
Chair, Butch Brun, who told me
that he is concerned about the voter
apathy at Red Lake and is going to
become active in promoting the
vote this year. The council will be
providing some type of
transportation to the polls; so if
you have questions, check out this
information and get out and vote.
I recently talked to one of the
County Commissioners who was
telling me about his opposition in
the primaries. There are some very
nefarious characters out there
running for office under the banner
of New Beltrami Organization.
This is the same group that has had
members of their party insult, no,
offend the decency of Native
Americans by slurring us in county
board meetings and spreading
dissension throughout the county. If
the problems of race relations are to
change in this region it can only come
from an involved voting constituency.
YOU. I have heard the taped sessions
ofthe county meetings that talk about
Indians being "trash" and "useless". I
thought I was back at the landings in
Wisconsin for spearing season. Also,
the County Race Relations taskforce
received letters concerning our second
class status in the community. I don't
know about you, but there are times
when I see these issues come up that
I wonder how we can tolerate them.
I seem to remember that when the
Pilgrims first came to this country it
was to flee from political and religious
persecution ,and they sought a haven
in which to be free. I do believe that
the first Thanksgiving feast could be
considered as the first welfare line in
this country. Guess who was serving
food to these starving people because
we recognized them as part of the
human race here on Turtle Island.
Now it is time for Indian people to
empower themselves against these
forces of darkness and use the
voting polls as tools for our own
recognition.
We are being recognized and
heard in this election year. Here are
some examples of how much
progress we are making. Four years
ago at the Democratic National
Convention there were only 8
Indians seated as delegates to this
convention. This year there were
62 Indians seated as delegates and
it is my understanding that there
were 92 Indians total, serving in
some type of party function. On the
other side of the coin, the
Republican convention had only 4
or 5 people of color and they tried
to really play this up. Now I must
admit that the only Republican
President that did us any good left
office in disgrace. This was Richard
Nixon. It seems to me that we were
called "our little brown people" and
"one of a thousand points oflight" To me,
this is very distasteful andaslapinthe face.
Frankly, even Slick Willy has some
reservations about his involvement with
minorities and I think that we need to
continue telling these party machines that
we will not take a back seat to anyone.
It seems like a lifetime ago that Rosa
Parks refused to ride in the back ofthe
bus in the deep south. Since the 1964
Civil Rights Act came into being, we
have played second fiddle to other
minority groups. The analogy would be
that we have been the Utile red caboose on
that Civil Rights train for too long. We
now have the political sophistication and
ability to express our own true sovereignty
and rights as an equal group within this
country. Whenwestandupandarecounted,
then the country will truly realize that we
are the founding fathers of this country.
We have a responsibility to teach others
that we walk in harmony with our worid
and they are welcome to join us. So...
Register and vote-Your Mother
Would Want You To.