Cocopah tribal council sworn in
The Cocopah Indian Tribe swore in its fivemember tribal council for a two-year term Friday, following a July 13 election.
More than 250 tribal members turned out for the vote, and four incumbents from the last council were re-elected: Chairwoman Sherry Cordoba, Vice Chairman J. Deal Begay Jr., and council members Edmund Domingues and Rosa J. Long.
Irwin Twist, who served on the council in previous years, was elected to the fifth seat.
Others on the ballot included Carlos Pereya, another former member who ran for all three offices but was not successful for any.
The other candidates, in order of votes received, were Winnie Ortega, Verley Valenzuela Sr., Sharon Lujan and Cinnamen White.
According to a video news release from the tribe, Cordova said in her remarks after being sworn in: “I was very humbled to see them (voters) brave the heat, their disabilities, but yet they came, they sat, they waited until 10, 11 at night, so I am indeed grateful to each and every one of you.”
Begay said after the ceremony he was most moved by “taking the oath to protect the Cocopah people and support and defend the Constitution.”
He said he ran for office to improve tribal programs, enterprises and partnerships, and “I hope to continue the positive trend and make improvements in our community.”
The Cocopah tribe holds elections every two years, on the second Friday in July. All council members serve two-year terms.
There are currently about 1,000 members of the tribe, which owns a 6,500-acre noncontiguous reservation concentrated around Somerton. It marked the 100th anniversary of federal recognition of its sovereignty last year.