Ned Norris, Jr. (born 1955) is a former chairman of the Tujuo O'odham Nation in southern Arizona. He holds the office for two consecutive periods from 2007-2015. Norris previously worked as director of marketing and public relations for the O'odham Gaming Authority.
Video Ned Norris Jr.
Biography
Initial life
Ned Norris, Jr. born in 1955 and raised in Tucson, Arizona. Norris attended elementary and high school in Flagstaff, Arizona before graduating from Sunnyside High School in Tucson. He received certification in social work from Pima Community College and enrolled in several classes at the University of Arizona, where he was later awarded an honorary doctorate from Human of Letters.
Career
Norris began working for the Tohono state government of O'odham in 1978 as a non-lawyer tribal judge. He served as a court judge until 1993. He also served on the school board of the Sunnyside Unified School School in Pima County, Arizona, from 1997 to 2000.
In addition, Norris was hired as director of public relations and marketing for the Tohono Gaming Authority of O'odham. He resigned from this position in 2003 when he was elected Vice-Chairman of the Tohono O'odham state. Norris also works for Desert Diamond Casino as assistant director of public relations. [Vice President] -2006)
In 1999, Vivian Juan-Saunders announced his intention to challenge Chief Tohono O'odham, Edward Manuel, who was looking for a second term in office. Juan-Saunders chose Norris as his partner in the election. Manuel defeated Juan-Saunders to win a second term as chairman.
In 2003, Vivian Juan-Saunders once again sought the lead with Ned Norris Jr. as his partner. He and Norris won the election with 59% of the vote in a rematch with Edward Manuel, who was looking for a third term. Norris became Vice-Chair of Tohono O'odham under Chairman Vivian Juan-Saunders, the first woman to lead Tohono O'odham. He held the post until his resignation in June 2006.
Chairman of Tohono O'odham (2007-2015)
In 2007, Norris challenged President Juan-Saunders in the executive elections of Tohono O'odham. Norris overthrew Juan-Saunders in the election, held on May 26, 2007. He received 1,766 of the 3,105 votes cast by Tohono O'odham electorate. His vice president, Isidro Lopez, became Vice Chairman of Tohono O'odham. Norris and Lopez were officially inaugurated as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the State Tohono O'odham on Friday, August 3, 2007.
He announced that his priority as Chairman was to attract college educated Tohono O'odham back to the reservation, as well as foucs about health care and the alleviation of unemployment.
In 2011, Norris announced his nomination for re-election as chairman. Wavalene Marie Romero, a member of the board of Tohono O'odham, is Norris's teammate for deputy chairman. Vice-President Isidro Lopez chose to retire rather than seeking a second term.
On Saturday, May 28, 2011, Ned Norris Jr. re-elected for a second term as Head of State Tohono O'odham. The total number of votes is 3,729. Norris received 2,238 votes to beat Juan-Saunders who received 1,491 votes.
In May 2015, Norris and his team mate Romero were defeated by former Chairman Edward D. Manuel with 213 votes.
Maps Ned Norris Jr.
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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