Digital Scholarship and Initiatives

Leon Jacobs, tribal administrator, retired last week after three years in his position. For health and family reasons, he did not seek a contract extension. He may continue work as a consultant on federal recognition and federal programs. The tribal constitution calls for the tribal chairperson to bring a recommendation for tribal administrator to the Tribal Council for approval. Tribal Council member Danita Locklear believes that a national search should be done and that the new tribal administrator should not be someone "from the local political arena." Jacobs had previously worked as tribal manager for the Mashantucket Pequot tribe of Connecticut (eight years), as regional director of American Indian programs for the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, and as tribal administrator for the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. Jacobs's salary as tribal administrator and housing director was $156,000 per year; but the new administrator's salary has been budgeted for $78,000 because housing director will be a separate position.