WIND OF VICTORY VIRGIL WIND TAKES PRIMARY ELECTION FOR OFFICE OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE
By Vivian LaMoore, Inaajimowin Editor
Tuesday, April 2, started out like any other spring Tuesday, except this was the Primary Election Day for the Mille Lacs Band offices of Chief Executive and District I Representative. Polling offices were open until 8 p.m. and as darkness fell, the news of the “unofficial” election results for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe spread faster than a wildfire on a windy spring day. Virgil Wind took the victory spot in the Primary as the newly elected Chief Executive Elect for the Mille Lacs Band. He will assume the office full time in July.
Wind officially won the three-person race with 67.44% of the vote. Votes for Samuel Moose totaled 30.645%, and Wallace St. John, Sr. claimed the remaining 1.92%.
Generally, the two candidates with the greatest number of votes in each race move on to the general election in early June, according to the election rules of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. However, under the MCT election ordinance, if a candidate running in a primary election receives more than 50% of the votes, that candidate wins the race. In this case, Virgil Wind has been declared the winner in the race for Chief Executive. Valerie Harrington-Wind and Caroline Beaulieu will continue in the race for District I Representative.
Having the confidence of nearly 70% of Mille Lacs Band voters, Wind said he is humbled. “There are no words to describe how grateful I am,” he said. “I believe it is all based around connection. People want to know that they matter. Whether it is a two-second handshake and a hello or a long talk about some issue that we are facing, people want to know — they have to know that they are valued. Whether you are a Harvard grad or an addict who needs help, there is a comfort for people in knowing they can come to me with any woes, and we will do the best we can. Being truly fair to people and I don’t lie. It is one of the things that makes me who I am.”
Wind plans to focus on bringing that mindset into the Chief Executive office. “I always believe you should speak your truth and do what you believe in and not change with the direction of the wind.”
"Heart, passion, ethics, character, empathy, and more play" a part in his belief of servant leadership, he said. He hopes to represent the Mille Lacs Band on all levels whether it is in government-to-government relationships or one-to-one with someone in need; he is determined to bring that philosophy into his new role to “lead with inspiration and not fear.”
As he exits his role as District I Representative, he is leaving a legacy of connection for the District I community. Wind has spent the last four years as the District I Representative where his focus was not only on the legislative process, laws, and policies, but he also held a firm belief in creating a strong sense of community and connection. He understands that each District is a distinctively different community with unique needs he will move forward in a manner to ensure the Band government is addressing those needs distinctively. With that, he hopes to focus on fostering a sense of community across all districts and throughout the Tribe as a whole. He discussed his role as being a conduit between government and the people in order to align the Band members with the programs, services, and grants that they need.
Having won the election in the primary is a great advantage when it comes to transitioning into the new role as Chief Executive, he said. Having 90 days to prepare in lieu of 30 days, will offer opportunity for a smooth transition, and he will be able to prepare for putting key players into place before taking office.
He additionally discussed the challenges and priorities of a newly elected official and building competent teams to be able to focus on the issues. The first 30 to 100 days in office will be spent learning and assessing the position and building a strong team. He plans to have a strong focus on education that will benefit all of the youth. He is determined to establish a detox center and enhanced services to address the opioid epidemic. He will also emphasize programs to help break the cycle of addiction.
Wind outlined his mission to build a stronger relationship between the government and its citizens over the next four years with the support of his family, the communities, and all of the people of the Mille Lacs Band. He holds fast to his “commitment to fairness, truth, and connection,” thanking his supporters for their confidence, and expressed his determination to continue serving the people of the Mille Lacs Band.