Vincent Armenta Resigns As Tribal Chairman Of The Santa Ynez Band Of Chumash Indians

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Mar 17, 2016, 06:06 ET

SANTA YNEZ, Calif., March 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Longtime tribal leader Vincent Armenta announced his resignation as Tribal Chairman of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.

Armenta was first elected to the role of Tribal Chairman in December 1999 and has been re-elected in every tribal election since. He has been a tireless advocate for his tribe and has been instrumental in positioning the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians as one of the most successful tribes in California.

"Nearly 17 years ago when I first became Tribal Chairman, I was a young man who had no tribal government experience, but what I did have was a strong desire to work on behalf of my tribe to take us to the next level and position our tribe for a better future," said Armenta. "I believe I have done that."

Along with his fellow Business Committee members, Armenta built a thriving business enterprise composed of the Chumash Casino Resort, Hotel Corque, Root 246, the Hadsten House, two gas stations and a winery. The tribe also has a growing real estate portfolio that includes parcels throughout the Santa Ynez Valley.

A new Tribal Chairman will be elected according to the tribe's articles of organization. The tribe's Vice Chairman, Kenneth Kahn, will serve as the Interim Tribal Chairman.

"Under Chairman Armenta's leadership, our tribe has traveled further than any of us ever thought possible," said Kenneth Kahn, Interim Tribal Chairman of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. "He led our tribe from relative obscurity to being one of the most visible and dynamic tribes in the nation. I am grateful for all that he has done for our tribe and wish him the best."

Armenta was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, New York and will leave his position as a tribal leader to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in culinary arts.

"I have always enjoyed cooking, but it's been a lifetime dream to delve further into the culinary arts and enhance my talents in this area," said Armenta. "When one of my sons attended CIA a few years ago, I thought that someday I would attend – and that day has come."

Armenta will start classes in the next few months. "I will watch with great interest as our tribe's new Tribal Chairman leads our tribe toward an even brighter future," he said.

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians owns and operates the Chumash Casino Resort, which is located on the tribe's reservation on Highway 246 in Santa Ynez, California. The tribe also owns Hotel Corque, Root 246 and the Hadsten House in Solvang and two gas stations in Santa Ynez. As the largest employer in the Santa Ynez Valley, the tribe employs more than 1,700 residents of Santa Barbara County.

See timeline below


*TRIBAL CHAIRMAN VINCENT ARMENTA* *TIMELINE*

December 1999	Elected to Tribal Chairman
March 2001	Re-elected to Tribal Chairman
July 2002	Tribe broke ground on $157 million new casino project
March 2003	Re-elected to Tribal Chairman
June 2003	Chumash Casino Resort opened
May 2004	Chumash Casino Resort Hotel opened
March 2005	Re-elected to Tribal Chairman
November 2006	Tribe purchased Royal Scandinavian Inn in Solvang
March 2007	Re-elected to Tribal Chairman
April 2008	Tribe published comprehensive Samala dictionary
March 2009	Re-elected to Tribal Chairman
May 2009	Tribe refurbished and rebranded the Royal Scandinavian Inn as Hotel Corque and Meadows restaurant as Root 246
April 2010	Tribe purchased 1,390 acres known as Camp 4
March 2011	Re-elected to Tribal Chairman
October 2011	Highway 154 designated "Chumash Highway" by California Legislature
May 2012	Tribe purchased Hadsten House in Solvang
May 2012	Chairman Armenta testified before Congress on trust land
March 2013	Re-elected to Tribal Chairman
May 2013	Tribe launched Kitá Wines
February 2014	Tribe and city of Solvang entered into a formal government- to-government relationship
June 2014	Bureau of Indian Affairs placed 6.9 acres into federal trust
September 2014	Tribe hired renowned architects Jones & Jones for museum
October 2014	Tribe began construction on $175 million casino expansion
November 2014	Tribe reached agreement with Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department to provide services to reservation
December 2014	Bureau of Indian Affairs issued "Notice of Decision" on placing Camp 4 land into federal trust
March 2015	Re-elected to Tribal Chairman
May 2015	Tribe reached agreement with Santa Barbara County Fire Department to provide services to reservation and beyond
June 2015	Chairman Armenta testified before Congress on HR 1157
July 2015	Tribe purchased 350 acres adjacent to Camp 4
August 2015	Tribe and city of Lompoc established formal government-to-government relationship
September 2015	Re-negotiated Tribal-State compact ratified by California Legislature