BARAGA – Primary election voters will thin out a field of nine candidates vying to serve on the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Council in the Baraga District.

Incumbent Donald Shalifoe, Sr., Robin Chosa, Alden Connor, Daniel Connor, Ronald Edwards, Hope Laramore, Rodney Loonsfoot, Elizabeth D. Mayo and Donald Messer, Jr. will be on the ballot for the primary election on Nov. 5.

Four of the council’s 12 seats will be determined in the tribe’s annual December general election. A tribal ordinance specifies if the number of candidates in a district does not exceed twice the number of offices to be filled, a primary is unnecessary.

For that reason, L’Anse District incumbent Michael F. LaFernier, Sr. and challengers Lyndon Ekdahl and Gary Loonsfoot Jr., along with Associate Judge candidate Violet M. Friisvall-Ayres, will only appear on the general election ballot.

Incumbent councilmen Gary Loonsfoot Sr. and Eddy Edwards are not seeking re-election.