Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Name New Tribal Chairman

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians named 39-year-old Kenneth Kahn their new tribal chairman.

“I am deeply honored that my fellow tribal members have elected me to serve as our new Tribal Chairman,” Kahn said. “I look forward to working alongside my fellow Business Committee members to ensure that the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians continues to grow and prosper.”

A special election was held after former chairman Vincent Armenta resigned on March 17 to pursue an education in culinary arts at the Culinary Institute of America in New York.

Kahn was nominated at the a meeting on April 12 and voted as Tribal Chairman by tribal members via absentee ballots.

The tribe’s Chairman and Business Committee are responsible for establishing policies and overseeing the legal and business affairs of the tribe, while providing for the economic well-being of its members.

To read Kahn’s biography click here.