Suquamish fill 5 seats on Tribal Council

By Ken Park • March 25, 2021 1:30 am
The new Suquamish Tribal Council, from left, Councilmembers Luther (Jay) Mills Jr., Rich Purser, Sammy Mabe, Chairman Leonard Forsman, secretary Windy Anderson, treasurer Robin Little Wing Sigo and vice-chairman Wayne George. (Photo by Jon Anderson/Courtesy of Suquamish Tribe)
The new Suquamish Tribal Council, from left, Councilmembers Luther (Jay) Mills Jr., Rich Purser, Sammy Mabe, Chairman Leonard Forsman, secretary Windy Anderson, treasurer Robin Little Wing Sigo and vice-chairman Wayne George. (Photo by Jon Anderson/Courtesy of Suquamish Tribe)

The Suquamish Tribe filled its five open spots on its Tribal Council last week, with four familiar faces returning and one new face joining.

Chairman Leonard Forsman was re-elected while Rich Purser, Sammy Mabe and Jay Mills Jr. were re-elected to their respective positions on the council as well.

The newest member is Windy Anderson, who manages the tribe’s cannabis enterprise Suquamish Evergreen Corp. Anderson will become council secretary, replacing Nigel Lawrence, who chose not to run.

These folks were elected during the Tribe’s General Council meeting March 21. Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the voting process was conducted via drive-through ballot dropoff after a weekend of reports and discussions via Zoom.

The pandemic last year required that the General Council be canceled in an effort to protect the health staff and council members. The chairman and secretary positions were extended another year, thereby staggering the years of service.