Pechanga tribe re-elects Maccaro to third term as tribal chairman

Monday, July 17, 2000 | 9:41 a.m.

Macarro, 36, defeated challenger and tribal council member Andrew Masiel in a vote Saturday for leadership of the 1,300-member tribe.

Macarro appeared in more than 12 television commercials supporting Propositions 5 and 1A, two ballot measures to legalize Indian-run casinos.

The Pechanga tribe opened a casino in 1995 on their 7-square-mile reservation south of Temecula, and have funded reservation improvements with more than $20 million in gaming revenues.

Macarro said in a statement that while he was grateful to receive the support of his tribe, it was time to resume activities for tribal empowerment.

"With elections behind us, we can focus once again on the real work of community building, continuing our years-long journey to political and economic stabilization and self-reliance," Macarro said in a statement Sunday.

archive