By By Adrienne McKenzie
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians held elections Saturday, reelecting current Tribal Chairman Buford L. Rolin and treasurer Arthur Mothershed and also elected newcomer Garvis Sells.
Public Relations Tribal Liaison Sharon Delmar said the turnout for elections was greater than ever.
The Tribal Council consists of nine members and only three of those seats were up for reelection. Sells took over the position most recently held by Eddie L. Tullis.
Sells has been a resident of the Poarch Creek Indian reservation his entire life. He understands the workings of Tribal government, having been surrounded by it the majority of his life.
Sells’ mother, Roberta, served on the original Tribal Council as secretary. Sells walks in his mother’s footsteps as he serves the Tribe and represents the principles and traditions of his ancestors.
Sells is vice chairman and an active member of the Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO). TERO promotes Tribal member employment and advancement.
Sells is married to Catherine Jackson Sells and is the son of the late Eugene and Roberta Sells.
Since Rolin and Mothershed were up for reelection, their respective positions of Chairman and treasurer are also up for grabs.
Rolin is a Poarch Band of Creek Indians member. He has served as secretary for the Tribe, as well as vice chairman. He was selected as Chairman on June 12, 2006.
Rolin has been a part of several organizations including the National Congress of American Indians, the Atmore Area Partnership for Youth Board of Directors and the Florida Governor’s Council on Indian Affairs and many more. He has also been awarded many honors including the Director’s Award of Excellence by the Indian Health Service and the Area Director’s Special Commendation Award from the Indian Health Service.
Mothershed was elected treasurer of the PCI Council in June 2005. He has a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Alabama and a bachelor’s degree from Faulkner University. He was born and raised in the Poarch Tribal community.
For Tribal Chairman and treasurer election results, see Sunday’s Advance.