By By Lee Weyhrich
The Poarch Creek Tribal Council elected a new tribal chairman Thursday afternoon.
Fred McGhee was elected chairman, replacing Eddie Tullis, in the group's organizational meeting.
The tribe holds elections each June. After the general election, the tribal council elects members to leadership positions at its organizational meeting.
Tullis won reelection to another three-year term on the council in the general election earlier this month, along with Buford Rolin and Arthur Mothershed.
Fred McGhee already served on the council, and previously served a year as chairman. With the exception of that year, Tullis had served as tribal chairman since 1976.
Tribal council members cast their votes in the leadership elections by secret ballot.
Prior to Thursday's council leadership elections, tribal members were given a chance to express their opinions. Most of those who spoke made impassioned speeches favoring Tullis as chairman.
Instead, the council elected McGhee.
Despite the changes, the new chairman said that little would change as far as tribal goals.
"My goals are pretty much the same as Eddie Tullis'," McGhee said. "We want to expand our gaming, move our tribe forward and work on education. Nothing's changed as far as what I see and where we want to be."
Buford Rolin maintained his position as tribal vice chairman without opposition, but the position of treasurer had two nominees, Tullis and Arthur Mothershed. Tullis served as treasurer before becoming chairman.
Before becoming tribal chairman Tullis served as treasurer and was hoping to resume
"I served four years as tribal treasurer before I became Tribal Chairman," Tullis said Thursday. "The tribe is terribly, terribly complicated. I would like to continue serving this tribe as tribal chairman."
Tullis stated that the position of tribal treasurer should be held by someone who knew the inner workings of the tribe's economics.
But Poarch Creek Gaming CFO Arthur Mothershed, a newly-elected council member, won the position.
"In my current duties I feel I have the experience necessary to fulfill the duties of treasurer," Mothershed said.
Tullis will continue to serve the tribe in a new capacity with a position on the recreation board as a council member.
"I've dedicated my life to this tribe and if I am allowed to serve I will continue to," Tullis said.
In the June 4 general election, 815 tribal members voted. Tullis told The Advance earlier this month that he received the most general election votes ever in that election.