GRAND MARAIS — A former state lawmaker has won a seat on the Cook County Board of Commssioners in northeastern Minnesota, thanks to a dice tiebreaker.

Former legislator Frank Moe and Kristin Wharton each received 246 votes in last week’s election, so the winner was determined by chance.

The initial plan to draw Scrabble tiles was scrapped out of fear the candidates might be able to trace the outline of the letters with their fingers.

So instead the county auditor placed two dice in a bag, one colored red, the other blue. Moe chose the winning red cube.

Wharton asked for an official recount of the vote after a winner was certified. The recount conducted by the county auditor validated the original tally of 246 votes for each candidate.

Moe served District 4A in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2005 to 2008. He once traveled from Grand Marais to St. Paul via dog sled to deliver petitions against sulfide mining.