Mark Fox, '93, elected Three Affiliated Tribes Chairman

Document Type

News Article

Publication Date

11-17-2014

Campus Unit

School of Law

Abstract

Mark Fox, of Parshall, was elected Tuesday to lead the Three Affiliated Tribes for the next four years.

Fox, 52, a former councilman and the tribes' tax director, beat Damon Williams in a race settled by just more than 2,300 tribal members.

Williams, 45, also of Parshall, is the tribes' lead attorney. The unofficial tally was 1,240 for Fox and 1,094 for Williams.

Fox said he thinks his victory is about the change tribal members want and their belief that he's most capable of leading that change.

The two men emerged on top in the September primary, leaving behind current chairman Tex Hall. They waged a vigorous campaign across the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation and in key North Dakota communities that are home to enrolled tribal members.

The tribal election board has three days to certify Tuesday's results before Fox will be sworn in as chairman. When that will occur is not yet certain, Fox said.

In his campaign, Fox said he wants to change tribal government to add a legislative-style body as well as an elected attorney general. He said government needs to be decentralized away from a small tribal council and become more accessible and transparent to tribal members.

Following his failed campaign, Williams said after 12 years as tribal attorney and running for chairman, he plans to move on to work in the private sector. He said his phone was already ringing with a couple of offers on the night of the election.

He said he hopes for the best for the tribe and said, "I wish him (Fox) luck."

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