Quechan Tribe elects Jordan Joaquin new president

Jordan Joaquin, currently a Quechan Tribal council member, was chosen as the tribe’s president in a general election held Monday, according to an unofficial abstract of the results.

Documents posted in the window of the tribal administration offices show Joaquin got 281 votes, well ahead of former longtime president Michael J. Jackson Sr.’s 137 votes.

Incumbent Vice President Virgil S. Smith, who was appointed to the position in 2017, had a wider lead with 370 votes, while Peggy Baxter was the choice of 89 voters.

The tribe’s top two officers serve four-year terms, while the five council seats are up for election every two years.

Out of the 17 council candidates, the winners are Ina M. Hall, incumbent Aaron W. Brown, Gloria Bryant, Jonathan E. Koteen and Charles R. Escalanti, according to the unofficial abstract.

Joaquin, who could not be reached for comment Thursday, was one of four winners of the December 2016 council election who were blocked from taking office until the beginning of March while then-president Jackson fought to have the results thrown out.

Joaquin had previously served on the council from 2009-13.

Jackson resigned in March 2017, one day after the new council was sworn in, and was succeeded by former president Keeny Escalanti Sr. He did not run for office this year.

In Monday’s election, incumbent council members Mark “Willie” White, who finished sixth, and Marsha Hill were not re-elected, according to the unofficial results. The last council incumbent, Loraine White, was not a candidate.

According to the calendar set by the tribal constitution, the new council will be sworn into office Jan. 3.