Catawba Nation in South Carolina elects new chief for first time since 2011
Preliminary results show that Brian Harris has been elected as new Catawba Nation chief, said Tylee Anderson, spokesperson for the tribe.
Members will have a brief period to challenge the results before swearing in the newly elected leaders, which includes Harris, she said.
The election was held Saturday at the Nation’s Longhouse.
Brian Harris ran against Jason Harris to become chief. Jason Harris had served as assistant chief since 2015. The tribe also has elected its first woman for assistant chief, Patricia Leach, Brian Harris said Sunday.
Brian Harris will replace William “Bill” Harris, 69, as chief. Bill Harris has served as chief since 2011.
“I thought that as far as my political career for the tribe, I thought it would be limited to boards and committees, and I never had a thought that I would be in the top tier of my tribe,” he said Sunday.
Harris said he will jump into the job immediately with the executive committee. Some areas he wants to address is obtaining grants, and offering help to existing programs, while seeking new opportunities, he said.
He said he also would like to start tackling housing and casino issues.
“I’m ready to go right now,” he said.
More than 880 people turned out to vote, according to a poll watchers report, Harris said. That includes in-person votes, curbside votes and absentee votes, he said.
The tribe has nearly 3,700 members.
In addition to Harris and Leach, tribal members elected Roderick Beck as secretary/treasurer and at-large committee members Connie Wade and Roo George-Warren.
The Catawba Indian Nation is South Carolina’s only federally-recognized tribe. The reservation is in Rock Hill, S.C.
This story was originally published July 31, 2023 at 10:58 AM.
