Forrest Cuch and Shauna Engen. Photo from Facebook.

Forrest Cuch, the former executive director of the economic development corporation for the Ute Tribe of Utah, hired his partner, leading to complaints that led to her firing and his resignation, The Salt Lake Tribune reports.

Cuch hired Shauna Engen to work for the Ute Tribal Enterprises. He said she was helping to open a new restaurant and to revamp the tribe’s grocery store and two convenience stores.

But tribal members complained about Engen, who is not Ute. "So after two or three months of listening to that, we decided to thank her for her services and that was it," council member Stewart Pike told the Tribune.

The decision led Cuch to resign from his post. He previously declined to discuss the reason for his departure but admitted it was Engen's firing.

"She was doing an excellent job and they simply fired her because some people were complaining," Cuch told the paper.

Get the Story:
Forrest Cuch resigns as Ute Tribe executive after partner is terminated (The Salt Lake Tribune 9/19)

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