Mescalero Apache Tribe elects former USDA official Arthur Blazer as president

Wednesday, November 8, 2017  

The Mescalero Apache Tribe has a new leader.

Voters went to the polls on Tuesday and elected Arthur "Butch" Blazer as president, The Ruidoso News reported. He defeated Mark Chino, a former president, by 100 votes, the paper said.

Blazer, a former council member, served as a deputy under secretary at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was the first Native American in that post. He also was the first Native person to serve as the USDA's head of forestry in New Mexico.

Blazer, who will be inaugurated as president in January 2018, will succeed Danny Breuninger, who chose not to seek a third term in office.

Voters re-elected Gabe Aguilar as vice president, The Ruidoso News reported. Four council seats also were filled.

Read More on the Story:
Blazer wins Mescalero Apache presidency in Tuesday election (The Ruidoso News November 8, 2017)
New president to be elected Tuesday by Mescalero Apache (The Ruidoso News November 2, 2017)