Arvid Dahl
A special election was held on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 to fill two seats on the Grand Portage Reservation Tribal Council (RTC). When the polls at the Old Log School closed at 8:00 p.m., April (Clearwater-Day) McCormick and Arvid Dahl were declared the winners of the tribal council seats. In the race for tribal council secretary-treasurer, McCormick received 170 votes, which is 53.13 percent of the vote. Rob Hull, a committeeman II, who was serving as acting secretary treasurer since the October 2010 resignation of Dean Deschampe, earned 150 votes or 46.88 percent of the vote.
Arvid Dahl faced Christina “Tina” Deschampe for the Committeeman II council seat formerly held by Hull. Dahl won the seat with 201 votes, which is 62.2 percent of the vote. Deschampe received 120 votes.
Dahl is currently employed in the Grand Portage Emergency Management and Safety Department. He has served on the RTC in the past, from 1993 – 1998.
Reached by phone the day after the election, Dahl said, “I’m very honored that voters put their trust in me. I appreciate their support and I will try to do the best job I can.”
The results are considered unofficial until three days after the polls close, however the election was held in accordance with Minnesota Chippewa Tribe ordinances. Election workers were Gale Carlson, judge; Carol Cleveland, clerk; Marcie McIntire, teller; and William Dahl, alternate.
According to Minnesota Chippewa Tribe guidelines, the newly elected council members will take office on March 14, 2011.
The Grand Portage Reservation Tribal Council is the governing body of the reservation. The enrolled members of the band elect the tribal council officers. The council oversees health care, social services, education, jobs, housing, public safety, and more.
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