PALA – The Pala Band of Mission Indians announced Nov. 21 that all of the incumbent candidates for the Tribal Council were re-elected, including Chairman Robert Smith. Theresa Nieto was re-elected treasurer and Sheila Smith-Lopez was also re-elected councilmember at-large.

"I am extremely fortunate that I will able to continue to serve the Tribe again as chairman," said Robert Smith, re-elected tribal chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians. "We have made tremendous progress in asserting ourselves culturally, socially and economically, but we still have much more to achieve in the years to come."

Over the last two years Pala Casino Resort celebrated its 10th anniversary and has flourished under this Tribal Council’s leadership winning numerous awards for its casino, entertainment venue and Advertisement

[ Pala Mesa Resort ] spa. The Tribal Council has also embraced the tribe’s veterans by producing a documentary that can be seen at www.palatribe.com/programs/PalaVeterans and restoring a historic home on the reservation for military veterans.

The Tribal Council also established Rez Radio 91.3 in 2011, which was the region’s first new full-power FM radio station in Southern California in nearly 20 years, and recently won an award from the San Diego Press Club for its daily news program Pala Today.

The election was held Nov. 20. Tribal council members each serve a two-year term, with half of the Tribal Council up for election each year. The other offices of vice-chairman, secretary and the other tribal councilmember at-large are voted on in odd-numbered years.