Utah
Gov. Gary Herbert (R) fired Forrest Cuch, the longtime director of the
Division of Indian Affairs, last week and tribal leaders want to know why.
Herbert will not say why he fired Cuch, who served in the position for 13 years. He didn't consult tribes before making the decision.
"We will not support this," Richard Jenks Jr., the chairman of the
Ute Tribe business committee, told The Deseret News.
Cuch, a member of the Ute Tribe, doesn't know why he was fired either. He was only told that Herbert wants to take the office in a different direction.
"It was a big-time shock. I was traumatized," Cuch told the paper. "I never thought I would be treated this way for 13 and a half years of service. I did some good work for the state, and I didn't deserve to be treated this way."
Get the Story:
Ute Indian Tribe wants Herbert to explain Cuch's firing
(The Deseret News 3/1)
Press Release: Ute Indian Tribe Objects to Termination of Utah State Division of Indian Affairs Director (Ute Tribe 2/28)
Guv fires Indian Affairs director, tribes angered (The Salt Lake Tribune 2/26)
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