Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians Elects Four Members to Tribal Council

FRESNO, Calif., Dec. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, December 7, the over 800 Chukchansi Tribal members who received ballots from the Election Committee voted to re-elect the current Tribal Chairman, Reggie Lewis, incumbent Treasurer, Chance Alberta and former Tribal Chairpersons Dixie Jackson and Morris Reid, to the Chukchansi Tribal Council. Tribal members continue to show overwhelming support for the Tribal Council despite threats from a small group of Tribal members that unsuccessfully attempted to take over the Tribal Government in February by claiming there were only 46 members of the Chukchansi Tribe. 

The election was conducted according to the Tribe's Election Ordinance, with ballots sent to over 800 Tribal members over the age of 18 by the independent accounting firm that has supervised the Tribe's elections since 2007. The accounting firm prepared, distributed, counted and certified the vote from the over 800 enrolled Tribal members over the age of 18 who received absentee ballots.

"There continues to be only one Tribal Council and the overwhelming support of Tribal Members affirms that indisputable fact," said Reggie Lewis, Chairman of the Chukchansi Tribe. "The new members of the Tribal Council will bring many years of leadership and experience. The Tribal Council looks forward to continuing its business of improving the quality of life of all 900+ Tribal members."

All Tribal members over 18 years of age were invited to participate in the election. The election marked a resolution to a dispute over the results of the Tribe's 2011 election. The challengers to the 2011 election participated in this election, further affirming the validity of this election and the Tribal Council.

Under the Chukchansi Constitution, the Tribal members elect the members of the Tribal Council, and the Tribal Council Members vote amongst themselves to determine the Chairperson, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary. The newly elected Tribal Council members will be installed on December 26.

The Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians is a federally-recognized Indian Tribe that has lived continuously in California's Central Valley and Sierra Foothills for more than 12,000 years. Today, the Chukchansi Tribe operates the Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino on its ancestral territory in Coarsegold, California. The casino employs over 1,200 individuals making it one of the largest employers in Madera County. For more information on the Chukchansi Tribe go to: http://www.chukchansi-nsn.gov. 

SOURCE Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians