The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians announced Tribal Council election results this week.
Jeff Grubbe
Tribal Council Chairman Jeff L. Grubbe was re-elected to a fourth consecutive two-year term.
With his election in 2006 to the Tribal Council, Grubbe continues a legacy of service and follows in his grandfather Lawrence Pierce’s footsteps, who also once served on the Tribal Council. Grubbe was appointed as Chairman in 2012 and won election to the seat later that same year. Prior to his service on the Tribal Council, Grubbe worked as a data entry clerk in the Trust Enforcement Support Activities (TESA) department for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
His work for the Tribe has spanned many years. In 1999, Grubbe entered the Agua Caliente Resort and Spa tribal intern program where he worked in the casino as a table games shift manager. His experience eventually led to his involvement in other Tribal service including the Agua Caliente Child Development Committee, the Agua Caliente Election Board, the Gaming Commission, and the Tribal Building Committee.
Grubbe later joined the Agua Caliente Development Authority (ACDA) and has been involved with the authority since 2003. He continues to serve as the Tribal Council Liaison. He also serves on the Executive Board of the Coachella Valley Association of Governments.
Grubbe is also involved in various organizations across Indian Country including service to the following boards: Nike N7, Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, National Indian Gaming Association and the National Congress of American Indians. In addition, he serves on the Board of Trustees of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.
Grubbe was recognized with a 40 Under 40 Award from The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. In addition, he was also recognized by Palm Springs Life Magazine with a 40 Under 40 Award for distinguished young professionals contributing to the success of the Coachella Valley.
Grubbe earned his bachelor degree in Information Systems from the University of Redlands. He also has an associate arts degree from Haskell Indian Nations University.
Tribal Council Vice-Chairman Larry N. Olinger continues in his elected two-year term.
Tribal Council Secretary/Treasurer Vincent Gonzales III continues in his elected two-year term.
Tribal Council Member Reid D. Milanovich was re-elected to his fifth consecutive one-year term.
Tribal Council Member Anthony W. Purnel was re-elected to his second one-year term.
The Tribal Council elections are a matter of tribal law, and are managed privately by the Election Board. The results of the March 20, 2018 election were certified and became final on April 3, 2018 when the Tribal Council Members were sworn in.
The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians is a federally recognized Indian Tribe located in Palm Springs, California, with 32,000 acres of reservation lands that spread across Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage and into the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto mountains. The Tribe owns and operates the Spa Resort Casino and the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa.
For more information about the Tribe, click HERE.
