The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah,) which is based on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts has elected Cheryl Andrews-Maltais as chairman. She defeated Don Widdiss for the position. Both had previously been chairman. Andrews-Maltais had most recently been chairman three years ago. She replaces Tobias Vanderhoop, who had defeated her previously.
A total of 190 ballots were counted and Andrews-Maltais had 115 votes.
Since the two candidates had differing opinions as to whether the tribe should pursue a Class II casino in Aguinnah, the vote seems to endorse Andrews-Maltais’s view that they should continue to fight to build one in an unfinished community building, despite setbacks in federal court.
A year ago U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV ruled that the tribe could not build there because they had previously signed an agreement (the Settlement Act) that they wouldn’t. That Act was ratified by the tribe, U.S. Congress and the state. The tribe had argued that the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which was adopted a year after they signed the agreement, trumped this agreement.
