14 Candidates Submit Statements Leading Up to May 10th Primary Election

By Joe Morey News Editor

The Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Tribe will hold its 2025 Primary Election on Saturday, May 10, with 27 tribal members officially declared as candidates. The election will determine which eight candidates will advance to the General Election on Saturday, June 21, where four seats on the LCO Tribal Governing Board (TGB) are up for grabs.

The four expiring terms on the TGB belong to current Chairman Louis Taylor, Vice Chairman Tweed Shuman, and board members Don Carley and David Bisonette. Whether these incumbents will continue to serve remains in the hands of LCO tribal voters as they prepare to cast their ballots in this pivotal election cycle.

According to tribal election procedures, the top eight vote-getters from the Primary Election will move on to the General Election. However, before being officially placed on the General Election ballot, those eight candidates must pass a mandatory drug test. Any candidate failing the test will be disqualified, and the next highest vote recipient from the Primary will be moved up to fill the vacancy on the ballot.

In the spirit of transparency and community engagement, all 27 candidates were invited to submit a 300-word statement for publication in the LCO News print and digital editions. These statements offer voters an opportunity to hear directly from those seeking office about their qualifications, priorities, and vision for the Tribe. As of the deadline, 14 candidates submitted their statements, which are published here.

Tribal members are encouraged to participate in this critical democratic process and to become informed about the candidates’ platforms. The outcome of this election will play a key role in shaping the leadership and direction of the LCO Tribe in the years ahead.

JASON MARTIN, SR

Boozhoo, I am Jason Martin Sr., and I am running for LCO Tribal Governing Board. I was raised here on the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation and have been employed with the tribe for over 30 years in various positions. I have experience from Law Enforcement to youth program mentor, to maintenance. I have strong beliefs in family, community, and tribal sovereignty. My goals are to support and grow our community to be self-sustainable and to promote the wellbeing, health, and safety of our members.

Safety: I would like to address this by installing more streetlights in our communities, safe walking paths in all communities, more signage on our roadways and road improvements.

State of living and health: Improve and rebuild our communities and address mental and physical health concerns.

Self-sustainability: build our economic status and invest in businesses that will benefit our members as well as bring in revenue for continued tribal improvement projects.

We can resolve the challenges we face by voting for change. We see the future we face, what is going to happen in the years to come? What will happen if we don’t do something to create change now? We are a strong people who fight battles daily. I believe by uniting under common goals our strength will push us towards reaching our goals and face anything that comes our way.

I am a person who has been where you are, I have faced challenges that at times I felt would beat me. It took determination, hard work, and support of family and friends to get back up. I do not back down from challenges, I protect what I love, and I love this community. This is my home, its where I raised my children. I want to protect it for our future generations to come.

DULCIE RAE WOLF

You may remember I worked in Accounting at LCO. My family is from the Wolf Point community near Thoroughfare. My family line follows down the Crane Clan from our great grandfather, Akiwenzi, the signer of treaties. My father was Ray Wolf, Sr, former Vice-Chair for LCO, and my Mom, Dulcie Wolf, was a friend to all and helper at LCO school. I am actively involved with our grandchildren, the 7th generation from Chief Akiwenzi. My vision is to look forward 7 generations for the purpose of betterment of life at LCO.

I rode the Namekagon Transit to work at the Tribal office. Dad’s example influenced my punctuality to get to work on time. When he was still living, I would stop in after work to get his advice about life before walking home.

Dad stressed education so I followed through with years of work in college. I served as Assistant Director of BIE Indian Education in Washington DC, where I prepared and defended the BIE budget before the Office of Management and Budget (OMB); at Digital/H-P I progressed to Regional Financial Services Manager before working for the Tribe, first as CFO of the Seven Winds Casino and lastly as CFO for the Tribe.

Our tribe needs to revise and vote to create a new Constitution to ensure that our tribal government will be accountable to members. The TGB needs to meet with the membership monthly and seek their advice on important issues like our Budget, employment policies and business. We need TGB members who regularly talk with people from every village and speak to members in public forums.

As a TGB member, I will use my skills and knowledge to take proactive steps to safeguard our resources and serve our tribal membership.

DON CARLEY

As a proud tribal and community member, it has been my greatest honor to serve you in various capacities over the years, none more fulfilling than my role as your Councilmember. Together, we have achieved remarkable milestones, always prioritizing the well-being of our members through jobs, homes, healthcare, education, and family support.

From helping draft the first-ever personnel policies for LCO to working in our first casino and serving on Tribal Council, my commitment has always been to advocate for, defend, and assist our members. As a team, we’ve accomplished so much: building over 40 homes on our reservation, ensuring clean water through expanded water and sewer systems, creating jobs across government and business sectors, and transforming our community college into a thriving university. We’ve also established vital infrastructure, including a new clinic, firehall, police station, and daycare facilities, all designed to serve and protect our members.

Yet, our work is far from over. As our Tribe and population grow, we must modernize and expand our efforts to better serve our people. This includes supporting tribal member-owned businesses, increasing housing availability, and extending water and sewer infrastructure to communities like Signor, which has waited far too long for clean water. We must also invest in our youth, ensuring they have access to education, job opportunities, and housing. With our new healthcare facility, we have the chance to elevate the health and well-being of our members through exceptional care.

Together, we can build on our successes and continue striving for a brighter future for all. I am committed to working tirelessly for our community and humbly ask for your support as we move forward. I humbly ask you to VOTE FOR DON CARLEY!

BOB SHARLOW

  Boozhoo. As a candidate for the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing board, I would like to introduce myself.

Currently, I am the Superintendent for LCO Development. I’ve served in this role for 12 years. I am a seasoned professional with 37+ years’ experience in construction. The skills and experience needed to run projects of all different sizes and scopes. I bring a proven track record of helping companies streamline processes, improve efficiency and complete projects on time while under budget. I have been the tribal consultant to the tribal governing board in many capacities from building budgets, architectural needs and safety adherence. I am the candidate that will always have the best interests of our workforce at the table. This background is what is needed to represent you on the Tribal Council.

I’m a family man with family values; I have served in the United States military and am a proud community member. I believe all community members have a voice to be heard and respected. From our tiny tots to our precious elders. Uniting our tribal members is on the top of my list of priorities. For far too long, our community has been divided by our government, and I will work to improve that. Having a tribal government that supports its membership should not be a campaign issue but a way of life.

My leadership, experience and qualifications are what are needed in these difficult times. We, as Anishinaabe, are facing challenges that requires solid leadership and guidance. A strong voice that is willing to represent and stand up for LCO in a time that it needs it the most.

In return for your vote and support, I can and will be that voice for you.

MARCY GOUGE

Boozhoo LCO,

As a member of Lac Courte Oreilles, daughter of Art and Alberta (Kingfisher) Fleming, I am excited to accept my nomination as a candidate for the 2025 Tribal Governing Board election. One of 11 siblings, I grew up in Signor near the Billyboy Dam on the Couderay River. My values, which include honesty, integrity, and a strong work ethic, can be attributed to my upbringing. I conduct my professional and personal life with a sense of responsibility, caring, compassion, and concern for the well-being of family and community.

I hold an AS degree in Business from the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Community College (LCOOCC). My experience includes working in the Vocational Trades program at LCOOCC. For the past 32 years, I have worked for the LCO Housing Authority in various positions, most recently as the Interim Executive Director. From these perspectives, I have learned a lot about the needs of our tribe and would like to expand my ability to work on creating opportunities and solutions to these needs.

I believe in education and training as a means of strengthening our community. I believe that we can find ways to help heal shared trauma. I believe in treating people with respect and integrity. I believe in listening and having open and honest communication. I believe that we can develop more revenue streams to increase our financial independence. I believe in advocating for our people at all levels of government. I believe my combined upbringing, work experience, volunteerism, and service on boards and committees locally, regionally, and nationally have prepared me to represent LCO here at home and in external government relations.

If elected, I will work hard to effect positive changes, create opportunities, find solutions, and stand up for our people.

Miigwech for your support.

MICHAEL "MICK" TAINTER

Michael “Mick” Tainter is a lifelong member of Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO), a descendant of the Tainter/Homesky family. His parents were Art & Cathy Tainter of “Tainter Hill” near New Post. Mick is retired from the U.S. Navy after serving for 20 years, and he is currently working in the Information Technology industry for CDW. Mick has been leading digital Infrastructure projects for more than 30 years. On numerous occasions, Mick has led strategy and projects across a broad spectrum, including technology implementations, data center builds/management, operations support system upgrades, logistical requirements for a highly mobile organization and IT governance.

Mick and his family moved back to LCO in August 2023, where he plans to retire from his current position and focus on using his 20 years of government and 25 years of IT experience to enhance the LCO Community. Over the past 18 months, Mick has been conducting community outreach in the New Post Community to help them organize and assist with their issues and concerns. Over the past year, he has been actively engaged in many events in New Post, including managing two facilities to ensure they are maintained to a high standard.

Mick also recently engaged with our Tribal Elders to assist with the creation of a revised LCO Constitution. He has years of experience creating Governance Frameworks for multi-billion-dollar organizations and has managed budgets exceeding two (2) billion dollars. Mick has a wealth of experience in economic growth and is well-suited to make a direct impact on the sustainability of LCO.

LYNETTE TRIBBLE

  Boozhoo,

My name is Biidaasinookwe. My English name is Lynette Tribble. My parents are the late Mike and Marilyn Tribble, who both taught me important aspects in leadership, accountability, work ethics and tribal rights.

I would like you to consider casting one of your votes my way on May 10, 2025, in TGB election.

I’ve earned degrees in Business Management, Secretarial & Computer Science from LCO Ojibwe University and Haskell Nations University.

My work experience is 12+ years as Administrative Assistant with LCO Casino and LCO College, 22+ years in management with Tribal Enterprises, and currently the Business Development Manager for a wholesale distribution company. I also served on LCO HeadStart Policy Council, LCO Police Commission and LCO Gaming Commission which taught me the importance of policies and procedures for accountability.

I’ve learned many different values and teachings throughout the years by having the opportunity to collaborate with our tribal members and having them as team members.

I cannot come before anyone of you and make promises that I cannot keep. I can tell you that I come with many experiences in Business, Gaming and Education and I will work my hardest to bring our tribe forward with accountability and keep our future first at hand. I strongly believe that together we make up our tribe and together we can become successful.

If you believe our tribe needs change, give me that shot to work hard so we can prosper forward.

Our Election for this year was to replace three seats, there is a fourth seat for a 2-yr term. If you already have three individuals considered, give me that shot for that fourth one. Let me show you in 2 years how hard I could work at moving us forward and safeguarding our assets, communities, and programs.

JANET QUADERER

Boozhoo indinawemaaganidog. Opichi indizhinikaaz, Migizi indoodem. Baataawigamag indoonjibaa, Odaawaa-zaaga’iganiing indanakii noongoom.

Greetings my relatives,

My name is Janet Quaderer, and I’m the daughter of Steve and Judy Quaderer. I grew up in the Whitefish community and now raise our six children, along with my partner of 27 years, in North Reserve. We also have four grandchildren. I hold a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management from the University of Wisconsin-Superior.

Throughout my life, I have served the Lac Courte Oreilles community in many ways—from emergency services and law enforcement to grants and planning, youth programs, and education initiatives. Today, I continue to give back as Co-Chair of the Honor the Earth Powwow Committee, President of the LCO Language Camp Planning Committee, and recently Chair of our Election Committee.

I am committed to advancing our shared values and beliefs:

Our youth are the heart of our future.

I will expand education, leadership, mentorship, and cultural programs to prepare our young people to lead with pride, resilience, and responsibility.

Our language and traditions are the foundation of who we are.

I will support and grow efforts to teach our language, preserve cultural practices, and promote intergenerational knowledge sharing.

Our ancestors lived in balance with the land.

I will advocate for stronger food sovereignty initiatives, community gardens, traditional food programs, and sustainable practices.

True sovereignty means standing strong on our own.

I will support initiatives that grow our economy, create jobs, protect our lands, and strengthen our independence.

I believe that we must lead with integrity, honor the trust placed in us, and stay rooted in our traditions. Together, we can protect our rights, revitalize our culture, empower our youth, and build a Nation that stands strong for generations to come.

Miigwech mii sa iw!

DAYLENE SHARLOW-GOKEY

My overall goal is to work hard for my tribe by giving back to the community and helping my fellow tribal members.

 My promise to each of my tribal members is that I will educate myself on the issues that come before the council and cast my vote based on valid information, and review what the impact will be on each tribal member. Some of the qualities I can bring to the council: Honesty, Integrity, Dependability, Self-Responsibility, Leadership, and Respect. I will continue to uphold the value and exemplify a strong sense of leadership for any tribal members, in addition to creating programs for our youth.

I would like to see a financial analysis conducted over the entire LCO tribal administration and all enterprises to evaluate spending practices, jobs, and wage disparities. Developing Pathways-to-Work programs along with programs for drug prevention awareness among the youth. Drug treatment facilities with transitional housing, program support, and job opportunities available to tribal members in recovery. Family-oriented attractions for the community and tourist families.

I would also advocate on behalf of all my tribal members: elder concerns, strengthening tribal resources for housing, extended support for those dealing with hardships, community healing and wellness, a youth council, tribal minimum wage/competitive tribal wage, stable workforce, community safety officers, economic growth, more general membership meetings along with community meetings.

 I understand the responsibility and commitment it takes for this position; I will do my best to uphold the traditions and values for the people of LCO. I believe in open communication, so please feel free to reach out to me.

I encourage you to join me in exercising your right to vote in the primary election and hope to gain one of your votes. Your voice is important and needs to be heard!

JAMES SCHLENDER JR

Boozhoo. It is with great honor and privilege that I accept my nomination as a candidate for the 2025 Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board. My education and professional experience have equipped me with the skills necessary for this position.

I am a United States Marine Corps veteran from the Chief Lake/Black Bear community. I hold an undergraduate degree in Political Science/Government Operations from the UW-Madison and a Law degree from UW-Madison Law School. I have work experience in Federal Indian law, tribal courts, and government operations. I have worked for the tribe as a tribal attorney, Chief Judge, General Counsel for the LCO University, and as the Tribe’s Attorney General. Additionally, I have served on the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors and as a Court Commissioner for the Sawyer County Circuit Court.

I have a commitment for respect and cooperation. It is my pledge to our people that I will not engage in or condone personal attacks against our tribe, tribal leaders, or tribal members. In the current political climate, personal attacks are far too common. I am committed to upholding the integrity of our community, ensuring that all voices are heard and respected, even in times of disagreement.

My dedication lies with my tribe, my people, and our government. We should strive to embody the principles of Mino Bimaadiziwin in our daily lives, prioritizing balance, respect, humility, and purpose. Regardless of background we are all from LCO.

My background and experience will strengthen LCO for the challenges coming from the federal and state governments. LCO needs to be at the table in Washington DC, or in Madison, advocating for our membership, protecting our resources, and preserving our jobs. I humbly ask for your support and your vote in the upcoming election. We are stronger together. Miigwetch.

JEFF CRONE

This is who I am and what I stand for: I am a person of faith who believes in the LCO people and myself. We are a resolute nation and have endured years of discrimination efforts to demean and intimidate us, this goes back to my early childhood years in the Hayward School district, fortunately most of that is behind us now and we are generally in better relations with our neighbors. I am a big supporter of education and have a master’s level certificate with a Baccalaureate Degree and an AA in Business Administration, before this I attended LCOOCC in 1986. I have fond memories of friends and family in the New Post community during my HS tenure in the 70’s and here where LCO Ojibwe Schools sits now. I love to reminisce about the early educators in my HS years such as Dennis and Cleo White, Bill Sutton, Rick St. Germaine, Preston Larson, Saxon Gouge, Joyce Miller, later, Librarian Sue Quaderer and others who dedicated themselves to education on LCO.

I love my people and culture and what we believe in, our families, children. elders and hunting, fishing . and gathering practices. With great respect I remember my uncle Biiziike, Harold Frogg, uncle Bullie. He is my personal inspiration to proudly once again place my name on the LCO TGB Ballot. Another mentor was Gordon Thayer who helped me greatly to overcome an addiction lifestyle in 2010. I proudly carry on both legacy’s. Both also served on Tribal Council. One mentor was traditional and one was Christian, I credit this diversity to my grandfather Sam Frogg who practiced both ends of the spectrum and taught me how to appreciate and gather positives from both worlds.

JORDAN ST. GERMAINE

Boozhoo! A little about me, I am the daughter of Leslie Isham, granddaughter of Dewey (Karen) Isham and am proud to raise my family here in LCO. I graduated from our Tribal K-12 and University (formerly community college) and then received a bachelor’s degree from UW-Platteville in Business Management.

I am currently the Planning and Grants Director for LCO, and in this position, my team and I have been able to successfully bring millions of dollars to the community to create and enhance community programs and services, as well as jobs. Because of this role, I work with the Tribal Government on a regular basis and would not have to “learn on the job”. I understand where improvement is needed to provide transparency and accountability to the membership and my background in financial management, accounting, and federal compliance will also ensure that we remain financially strong and responsible.

Beyond my current position, I have other governance and board experience and I’m comfortable with public speaking. I can articulate our community’s strengths and needs clearly and respectfully when working with state and federal agencies.

My focus areas include:

Strategic Planning

Develop a comprehensive strategic plan to align goals, guide resource allocation, and ensure progress.

Economic Development

Expand housing, education, and employment opportunities.

Strengthen our businesses and develop new revenue sources for financial independence.

Infrastructure

Invest in equitable access to quality infrastructure for all Tribal members.

Energy Sovereignty

Establish Tribal energy policies and commit resources for self-sufficiency.

Language and Culture

Support revitalization of traditional ways.

Create meaningful ways for elders and youth to contribute to planning and development.

Through these initiatives we can create better systems and supports to maintain and advance our beautiful community!

Miigwech for your support!

JOHN "RANDY" CADOTTE

Ozhaawashko-bineshiinh nindizhinikaaz, ma’iingan nindoodem. My english name is John “Randy” Cadotte, but most people know me as Randy. I am seeking your support for the upcoming 2025 Tribal Council elections.

First and foremost, I am a family man with a beautiful wife and four amazing children. We are all LCO Tribal Members and have lived within our great nation for most of our lives.

Currently, I am the program director for the Wisconsin Native Loan Fund. We are a Native CDFI whose sole mission is to provide access to capital to Native communities throughout Wisconsin. Previously, I worked in economic development at Wisconsin Indigenous Economic Development Corporation and also in Tribal gaming for over twenty years. Additionally, I have enjoyed serving and representing our Tribe on numerous Boards of non-profit organizations and profitable businesses. Through all these diverse experiences, I have acquired a unique set of forward-thinking, solution-based, and “outside the box” business skills, which I believe will benefit our Tribe.

We are facing trying times with the new Presidential Administration. We need to quit fighting internally, start unifying our Tribe, and create a strategy to overcome any future hardships.

It is imperative that we start respecting one another again. We don’t have to agree on everything, but we need to respect each other and ultimately, come away with one unified voice that will help our entire community and fortify our future generations.

Secondly, we need to hold each other accountable, especially ourselves. We have to quit blaming each other, learn from our mistakes, and become better Anishinaabe.

Then, we need to work together to empower our Tribal membership. Let's invest in our youth, create better opportunities for our families, and take care of our Elders.

Let your voice be heard, get out and vote!

SIRELLA FORD

My father is Pete Ford-baMoose) and my mother, Evelyn Isham-ba, Whitefish and Reserve, respectively.

I have a degree from Northland College in Business Administration, with a Minor in Computer Information Systems. I want to use my degree to help the people understand what our Tribal Government does for the community.

We need to start focusing on how Tribal Government is and relate it to business. What is the tribe’s mission statement? What is the tribe’s organizational chart? How can we use these two to create a better environment for all our membership? We could have strategic planning meetings so that we can better serve our community. We need to ask ourselves and our leaders how we would like to see the community in five years? Or ten? If there are substantial changes needed from the strategic planning, then we will need to communicate to our membership efficiently, so they can have the corrected information. Eventually, for any change, we will need to get in the habit of using a referendum, which allows the people to vote on a certain issue.

Some of my beliefs are:

❖ opinions and suggestions of our Elders, listening

❖ sustaining our traditional ways

❖ lifelong learning

❖ ways to sustain us, grants for solar, clean water, harvesting, food sovereignty

❖ common sense approach, keep it simple

❖ being respectful of opposing views

❖ peaceful solutions working toward the bigger picture of unity, pride, and strength of our Anishinaabe

❖ tribal members in senior or higher positions, and any training if needed

❖ safety for our members who live here, above all our elders and children.

❖ find ways to end the drug epidemic that is hurting our people, incorporating our culture as a resource. Focusing and prioritizing our younger generations healing, they are our future.