Butler re-elected Mashantucket chairman

Mashantucket — Rodney Butler on Sunday won a fourth three-year term as chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council in voting among tribal members.

Butler first won a sixth term on the seven-member council and then was re-elected chairman in a separate vote, according to Lori Potter, the tribe’s communications director.

In a three-way competition for chairman, Butler defeated Councilor Latoya Cluff and Richard E. Sebastian, who won a council seat in Sunday’s initial balloting. Councilor Daniel Menihan Jr. was re-elected to a second term on the council. Sebastian, a former council vice chairman who previously served five non-consecutive council terms, narrowly lost a re-election bid a year ago.

Jean Swift, the third incumbent councilor whose seat was up for election, did not seek re-election.

The council governs the tribe and oversees management of the tribe-owned Foxwoods Resort Casino and other business enterprises.

Butler chairs the board of directors of the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut and serves on the board of trustees of Roger Williams University and the board of directors of Mystic Aquarium.

Other council candidates on the ballot Sunday were Natasha Eleazer, Vincent Eleazer, James T. Jackson, James A. Jones, Mustafa Sharif Patterson, Marquise Ruffin, Cherokee Spears, Mark Thornton and Timothy A. Walker.

In addition to Cluff, the council members whose terms were not up for election are Crystal Whipple, vice chairwoman; Matthew Pearson, secretary; and Merrill “Marvin” Reels. The new council will take office in January.