Nearly 100 delegates gathered in the Milaca High School cafeteria April 8 to endorse the DFL candidates for the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives for District 15. The delegates endorsed Chilah Brown, a legislative aid with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, to represent the district in the Minnesota Senate race. 

 

Brown is a resident of Isle and a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.  She shared about growing up in Oklahoma and then coming to Minnesota where she has settled.  She works in tribal government and is scheduled to complete her Master’s Degree in tribal administration and governance this May.  In her nomination speech she referred to the ineffectiveness of local legislators at addressing issues related to Mille Lacs Lake, and she vowed to unite people to solve problems. During a question and answer period she discussed the return of the walleye on Red Lake as an example of how tribal nations and state government worked well together to reach a good solution.

 

After receiving the endorsement she said, ”My focus in running for Senate is to bridge the gap in our communities.  We can only spark change with new ideas and new leadership. I appreciate everyone’s vote and I look forward to the challenge,” and she presented wild rice to her competition for the endorsement. 

 

Upon receiving her endorsement she said, “I have the drive within me to better our community and the passion to bring people together.”  Scapanski will be campaigning in District 15B which includes parts of Sherburne, Wright, and Benton Counties.

 

She is running for the senate seat held by Dave Brown, R. Becker, who is retiring after two terms. Rep. Jim Newberger, R. Becker, is the endorsed candidate in his bid for re-election to the House. Andrew Mathews, Milaca, is the Republican endorsed candidate for the State seat.