California | NIGC | Openings & Closings | Regulation

Chukchansi Tribe picks leaders and hires new gaming commission

Monday, October 5, 2015

The Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino in Coarsegold, California. Photo from Facebook

The Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians held an election on Saturday aimed at resolving a leadership dispute that led to the closure of the tribe's casino in northern California.

But some people were denied ballots and others did not view the vote as legitimate, The Fresno Bee reported. Reggie Lewis, who was serving as the chairman of an interim council, lost his seat and vowed to appeal the results, the paper said.

Morris Reid, the leader of a rival faction on the reservation, was instead swept back into office along with six of his allies, the paper reported. Reid has been at odds with Lewis over the disenrollment of about 150 people, with Reid supporting their reinstatement, the paper said. Lewis did not want the disenrollees to participate but supported their right to appeal their removals.

The election came after Lewis announced the hiring of two new gaming regulators. Phil Hogen, who served as chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission during the Bush administration, will serve as chairman and Joe Smith will also serve.

"We began by looking for a lot of experience, and we landed the top two names in tribal gaming that were on our list," Lewis said in a press release on Friday.

But with Lewis out of office, it's unclear whether the new council will see the hires as legitimate. And if he pursues his appeal of the election results, the dispute will likely keep the reopening of the Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino delayed even further.

All three of the prior commissioners resigned last month, citing interference from the council at the time. The executive director also left.

The casino closed on October 9, 2014, after rival factions clashed there. The volatile situation prompted the National Indian Gaming Commission to issue a notice of violation and a temporary closure order that remains in place.

Get the Story:
In Chukchansi election, Morris Reid faction affiliates win sweep of seven seats (The Fresno Bee 10/5)
Chukchansi tribe holds election (The Fresno Bee 10/4)
Chukchansi tribe names new gaming commissioners (The Fresno Bee 10/3)