Tribal Advocates Secure Settlement for Local Elections in ND County

By Mike Moen Prairie News Service

For nearly two decades, a North Dakota county elected local commissioners in a way that did not comply with a consent decree concerning Native American interests. Advocates say a settlement has been reached to ensure that a fair system is re-established. The Native American Rights Fund recently announced the pending agreement with Benson County. In 2000, a court order spurred by a Department of Justice filing said the county's choice of an "at-large" election process diminished the political power of Natives in the area. But in 2004, the county went back to that process.

Michael Carter, staff attorney with the Native American Rights Fund, said recent Census figures show

Natives deserve greater representation.

"The county had a majority Native American population," Carter said. "However there was only one Native American serving on the board."

The group, which represented the Spirit Lake Tribe, contends the county's actions violated the federal Voting Rights Act. The Benson County state's attorney calls the settlement a good result. He notes that in 2004, the commission responded to a shift in Native population numbers and did not think the original decree was permanent.

In a phased-in structure,