Catawba Nation, SC (Tega Cay Sun) – Brian Harris appears to have unofficially won the position of Chief of the Catawba Nation, taking over from Bill Harris, who served as Chief for 12 years and chose not to seek re-election. The election took place on Saturday at the Nation’s Longhouse, with a voter turnout of 880 out of the tribe’s 3,700 members. The competition for the Chief role was between Brian Harris and his distant cousin, Jason Harris, who has been the assistant chief since 2015.
In a historic move, the tribe has also elected its first woman for the assistant chief position, Patricia Leach, along with Roderick Beck as secretary/treasurer and Connie Wade and Roo George-Warren as at-large committee members.
Before the new leaders can officially assume their roles, there is a brief period during which the results can be challenged by any member of South Carolina’s only federally-recognized tribe. Nonetheless, Brian Harris is eager to start working in his new capacity as soon as possible, expressing a particular focus on addressing casino-related matters and housing concerns.
