By Associated Press
Cattaraugus Indian Reservation, NY – The Seneca Nation of Indians -- operator of two casinos in Western New York -- has a new president.
Barry Snyder, Sr. was elected president of the nation Tuesday, beating former president Cyrus Schindler and Robert Jones.
Snyder ran on a platform that said the annuity elderly Seneca members receive from casino profits has been too low. Snyder says he favors replacing the non-Senecas currently running the casinos with Seneca members. He also plans to fire Seneca Gaming Corp. CEO Mickey Brown, claiming he has become inappropriately involved in Seneca politics.
Schindler was president when the Senecas reached an agreement with New York state to open casinos, which are up and in running in Niagara Falls and Salamanca.
Snyder replaces outgoing president Rickey Armstrong. Seneca presidents are allowed to serve only two years at a time.