SANTA YNEZ, CA – Kathleen Marshall has been appointed as the first Chairwoman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ regulatory compliance board, the Santa Ynez Gaming Commission, while Thomas Gomez was elected as a new commissioner and Virginia Ortega was re-elected following a recent vote by the tribe to select its regulatory body.
The Santa Ynez Gaming Commission, also known as the Gaming Committee, manages the Santa Ynez Tribal Gaming Agency (SYTGA), which performs the tribe’s regulatory responsibilities in accordance with federal and tribal law, and the state gaming compact. SYTGA is composed of four main divisions – internal audit, compliance, licensing background and surveillance.
Marshall has been involved extensively in activities surrounding the tribe, including as Vice Chairwoman of the Elders Council, a NAGPRA representative, Chairwoman of the tribe’s Museum Board, a credentialed language teacher and a Gaming Commissioner.
“I’m excited to embark on this next chapter with the Gaming Committee and ensure the integrity and compliance of the tribe’s gaming endeavors, while in turn helping sustain the future of our tribe,” said Marshall, who was first elected to the regulatory body in 2015. “It’s an honor to be the first woman to chair this committee. Our tribe has had many strong female leaders whose footsteps I follow.”
The commission’s Chairwoman and commissioners each serve three-year terms. After elected, the seated commissioners vote to appoint the commission’s chair. The current committee consists of Chairwoman Marshall and commissioners Virginia Ortega, Daniel Pace, Reggie Pagaling and Thomas Gomez. Marshall takes over for former Chairman Ted Ortega who completed his recent term and has termed out.
The Santa Ynez Gaming Commission was established in March 1994 and is elected by the tribe’s General Council. The five Gaming Commissioners are charged with ensuring regulatory compliance for the Chumash Casino Resort to guarantee the continued success and integrity of its gaming operations.
