The Seneca Nation may get its first woman president, as Senecas prepare for another of their fractious political campaigns for president and Tribal Council.
Under Seneca laws, the presidency alternates between the Cattaraugus and Allegany Reservations, so that Barry Snyder from Cattaraugus will be succeeded by someone from Allegany.
Tribal Councillor Darlene Miller wants to be that successor and be the first woman president. She's a former acting CEO of tribal health services. The formal campaign announcement came yesterday both at Allegany and the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino.
"I would like to see a program that is focused around career, career building," Miller explained.
"Each individual that comes back from college and has that experience. That, they come back and use what they have learned, their knowledge. They lack experience but they have knowledge. And, they need to be given that opportunity."
Miller says she also wants to improve vocational education for younger Senecas, for those who don't want to go to college. She also wants more economic development on nation land, using the profits of the three-casinos to pay for development and to provide even more jobs for tribal members.
