Rodney Butler has been reelected to a fourth three-year term as chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council. His tribe owns and operates Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, which is one of two large Indian casinos in the state.
Further results of the election included that Daniel Menihan was given a second term on the council and former Vice Chairman Richard Sebastian won a seat on the council.
The election was held November 5. The council’s new term begins in January.
Butler defeated two challengers from the council for the position as chairman.
The tribal council of seven members runs the tribe and manages its business enterprises, such as the casino.
Butler has a background in the finance department of the casino before joining the council in 2004. Since June, when Felix Rappaport, chief executive officer of the casino, died suddenly, Butler has been interim CEO. The tribe is currently search for a permanent corporate head.
Butler is also chairman of the board of the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut and of the board of Mystic Aquarium.
The tribe is contemplating bidding on building a casino resort in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, Japan, in what would be the first casino in that country. To assist in that venture, the casino last week announced that longtime gaming veteran Anika Howard has been named vice president of brand marketing and digital.
