7.24.21 – At right, PBPN Election Board Member Kateri Dayson explains the voter signature card to PBPN member Edith Wamego and her family at the 2021 Election. Failure to complete the card accurately can result in a disqualified ballot.
7.24.21
The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Election Committee gathered at the Old Bingo Hall on Saturday, July 24, 2021, to tabulate the ballots of the 2021 Ethics and Gaming Commission Elections. In total, 659 ballots were received, with 11 disqualified, resulting in the following outcome.
Ethics Commission Results
Ethics Commission Chairperson candidate Angela Greemore-Wahweotten received 520 votes. Ethics Commission Secretary Candidate, incumbent Virginia A. LeClere received 535 votes. Both candidates ran uncontested and won their positions.
Laura Abeyta and Royetta Rodewald ran for the position of Ethics Commission Vice-Chairperson. With a total vote count of 628, Rodewald received 51.75% of the vote sealing her bid for the position, while Abeyta received 48.25%.
Gaming Commission Results
Gaming Commissioner #2 incumbent Joe Mitchell retained his position. Mitchell ran uncontested and received 548 votes.
Three candidates were in the race for the Gaming Commissioner #1 position including incumbent Lisa Wamego, Joseph “Chago” Hale, Jr. and Barbara Evans. 637 votes were cast with Hale receiving 40.19%, Wamego at 35.64% and Evans with 24.18%.
With neither candidate exceeding the 50% plus 1 requirement, Hale and Wamego will advance to a Runoff Election. Ballots for the Runoff Election for Gaming Commissioner #1 will be mailed out to registered voters and shall be tabulated starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 21, 2021.
The results of this election are considered unofficial pending the three-day protest period, after which the results will become the Certified Election Results.
A Swearing-In Ceremony for the winners will occur on Thursday, July 29, 2021, at the Old Bingo Hall. More details will be made available in the near future.
