Grand Traverse Bay Band Chairman Derek Bailey to Announce His Congressional Intention

Native News Network Staff in Native Briefs. Discussion »

Tribal Chairman Derek Bailey

CEDAR, MICHIGAN - Derek Bailey, tribal chairman of the Grand Traverse Bay Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, based in Peshawbestown, Michigan will make his announcement on Saturday, October 1 about whether or not he will run for Congress representing Michigan's 1st Congressional District.

The Native News Network was emailed a media advisory indicating Bailey will make three stops within the Congressional District on Saturday. The locations and times are listed below:

9:00 am     Escanaba, Michigan
Bay City College
Room 952 University Center

1:30 pm     Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Lake Superior State University
Cisler Student & Conference Center
650 W. Easterday Ave

6:30 pm     Traverse City, Michigan
Good Works Collective
417 S. Union Street

A volunteer for the exploratory committee set up by Bailey to was non-committal to Bailey's decision to run for Congress.

Derek Bailey greets
President Obama

Bailey, 38, is currently serving in his first term as tribal chairman of his Tribe. His term ends in May 2012 and is reportedly not seeking reelection as tribal chairman.

If Bailey enters the race, Bailey will run as a Democrat. He will have opposition from at least one other Democrat in the primary election to be held next August 7, 2012. Former State Representative Gary McDowell has already announced in candidacy on September 14. McDowell lost to the incumbent Dan Benishek, Republican.

Michigan's 1st Congressional District was previously held by Bartholomew Thomas "Bart" Stupak, who served from 1993 to 2011. Stupak chose not to seek reelection in 2010.

The newly reconfigured District One Congressional seat that includes all of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and several counties in the Lower Peninsular. The newly drawn Congressional district contains eight of the twelve federally recognized American Indian tribes, based in Michigan.

Republican Tom Cole, an enrolled tribal member of the Chickasaw Tribe from Oklahoma's 4th Congressional District, is the only American Indian presenting serving in Congress. Less than ten American Indians have served in Congress during the history of the United States.

A graduate of Grand Valley State University, with a Master's of Social Work degree, Bailey returned home to work for his Tribe as a clinical counselor prior to first being elected to the Grand Traverse Bay Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, and then as its tribal chairman.

Bailey was named to the National Advisory Council on Indian Education by President Obama last year.

posted September 29, 2011 6:45 am edt