The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians are announcing the uncertified results of their 2009 Tribal Elections. The Election was held on Saturday, July 11. The results are expected to be officially certified by Saturday.

Matt Wesaw is the newly elected Tribal Chair succeeding John Miller. Wesaw served as Vice Chairman on the Tribal Council from 1995 – 1998, assuming the role of Chairman after the resignation of Joe Winchester. From 2002 – 2005, Wesaw served as Member-at-Large and as Vice-Chairman since 2006.

He is a former Michigan State Trooper and is also a former Director of Government Relations for the Trooper Association.

Butch Starrett is replacing Matt Wesaw as Vice-Chairman of the Tribal Council.
Starrett has served as a Member-at-Large since 2000.

Lynn Davidson is replacing Gerald Wesaw as the Elder’s Representative on the Tribal Council. Davidson has previously served on the Council as a Member-at-Large from August 2005 through May 2006. His term was shortened due to Secretarial Elections.

Edna Faye Wesaw was elected Tribal Secretary. She has previously served on the Council as Member-at-Large from 1999 – 2006.

Alice Overly was elected Member-at-Large. She had previously sat on the Council as a Member-at-Large from 1999 – 2001.

All 11 Tribal Council positions are held for a three-year term. The Tribal Chair is a fulltime position and the remaining Council members are reimbursed a per-meeting stipend.

The Pokagon Band has over 4,000 tribal members, with approximately 1,500 living in Michigan and Indiana. The tribe’s 10 county service area includes Allegan, Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties in Michigan as well as Elkhart, Kosciusko, Laporte, Marshall, Starke, and St. Joseph counties in Indiana. The Tribe’s Four Winds Casino opened in August 2007.