(In this photo provided by the tribe, the new Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Tribal Council is seen, from left, Dorie Rios, Nathaniel Spurr, RoAnn Beebe-Mohr, Jamie Stuck and Homer Mandoka.)
The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi, the AthensTownship, Michigan tribe that owns FireKeepers Casino, has announced the makeup of its new Tribal Council.
Following a crowded April 24 election for tribal members only, incumbent Sergeant-at-Arms Henry ‘Tiq’ Bush Jr. was ousted. Newcomers Nathaniel Spurr and Dorie Rios were elected. Incumbent council Secretary RoAnn Beebe-Mohr was re-elected to the five-member council. Incumbents Homer Mandoka and Jamie Stuck were not up for election.
The council members serve three-year terms, according to a news release from the tribe. There were 13 candidates vying for three open positions.
The tribe did not release the election results until Friday, June 18, 2010, and the council has declined interview requests from the Enquirer.
The council governs the tribe’s Pine Creek Reservation in Athens Township and acts as the executive board for the Emmett Township casino, which has roughly 1,500 employees. There are about 1,100 tribal members, nearly half of whom live in southwest Michigan.
The council named Mandoka council chairman, replacing the late Laura Spurr, who died of a heart attack in February. Stuck was named vice chairman; Beebe-Mohr remained secretary; Rios was named treasurer; and Nathaniel Spurr, Laura Spurr’s son, replaced Bush as sergeant-at-arms.