Legislation | Regulation

Eastern Cherokee gaming board member removed after dispute

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

A view of the gaming floor at the Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, North Carolina. Photo from Facebook

A gaming board member for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina has been removed from her position after a dispute that originated with the tribe's new leader.

Angela Kephart was supposed to serve on the board through September 2017 but the council passed a resolution that shortened her term by a year. She filed a protest against the resolution but lost by a narrow 44-43 vote during a special meeting on September 22, The Smoky Mountain News reported.

Kephart blamed her removal on Chief Patrick Lambert, who previously served as executive director of the tribe's gaming commission before he won the tribe's top elected office a year ago. He introduced the resolution that shortened her term.

"It’s clear that he has a personal agenda with me," Kephart told the paper.

But Kephart also drew scrutiny for an incident at a concert at the Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort earlier this year. Surveillance footage of her entourage showed up on a Facebook group called Cherokee Rants & Raves and tribal leaders were bothered by what they saw as harassment of casino employees.

Read More on the Story:
Casino board member loses fight to keep seat (The Smoky Mountain News 10/5)