The Tribal Council consists of seven members. The terms are staggered. Each Tribal Council member has responsibility for certain duties listed in the Potawatomi Constitution. One of their main duties is to protect the health, peace, morals, education, and welfare of the tribe.
Chairpersons
James Kegg – 1942 to 1943
Minnie Evans
Curtis Pequano – 1950
Mage Puckkee – 1958
Philip Burns – 1961
Lester Jessepe – Late 1960’s, early 1970’s
Tom Tuckwin
Constitution Re-instated February 19, 1976
Camilla Wishkeno – 5.5.1976
Vestina Durham 5.7.1979
Leslie “Chick” Hale – 1982
Elwin I. Shopteese – 1983
Delores Miller – 5.7.1984
George Wahquahboshkuk – 1985, 1986 – 1990, 1990 – 12.4.1993: Recalled
Gary Mitchell appointed on 12.8.1993
1994 to 1998
Chairperson: Mamie Rupnicki
June 29, 1994 to July 14, 1998
Secretary: Juanita Jessepe
Member #1: Benny Potts
1996 to 2000
Vice Chairperson: Vestina Nonken
Treasurer: James “Jimmy” Potter (Wabaunsee)
Member #2: James Jackson
Member #3: Mayme Mattwaoshshe
1998 to 2002
1998 Council: Chairwoman Mamie Rupnicki, Member Rey Kitchkumme, Treasurer Jimmy Potter, Secretary Steve Ortiz, Sr., Member James Jackson, Vice Chair Vestina Nonken, Member Mayme Mattwaoshshe
Chairperson: Mamie Rupnicki | July 15, 1998, Resigned 10/7/2000
Chairperson: Badger Wahwasuck appointed by Tribal Council in December 2000 through end of term
Secretary: Steve Ortiz, Sr. (Mon-wah)
Member #1: Rey Kitchkumme
2000 to 2004
2000 Council: Member Rey Kitchkumme, Member Jackie Mitchell, Member Roy Ogden, Secretary Steve Ortiz, Sr., Vice Chair Gary Mitchell, Chairman Badger Wahwasuck, Treasurer Jimmy Potter
Vice Chairperson: Gary Mitchell
Treasurer: James “Jimmy” Potter (Wabaunsee)
Member #2: Jackie Mitchell
Member #3: Roy Ogden
2002 to 2006
2002 Tribal Council: Roy Ogden, Steve Ortiz, Sr., Rey Kitchkumme, Gary Mitchell, Jackie Mitchell, James Potter, and Zach Pahmahmie.
Chairperson: Zach Pahmahmie | Resigned January 2006
Secretary: Steve Ortiz, Sr. (Mon-wah)
Member #1: Rey Kitchkumme | Won the Vice-Chairperson Position mid-term in 2004
2004 to 2008
2004 to 2006 Tribal Council: Member James Wabaunsee, Secretary Steve Ortiz, Sr., Member Jimmy Potter, Member Jackie Mitchell, Vice Chairman Rey Kitchkumme, Chairman Zach Pahmahmie, Treasurer Ryan Dyer
Vice Chairperson: Rey Kitchkumme
Treasurer: Ryan Dyer
Member #2: Jackie Mitchell
Member #3: Juanita Jessepe | Removed
2004 Special Election
Member #1: James “Jimmy” Potter (Wabaunsee)
elected for the remainder of 2004 – 2006 term left vacant by R. Kitchkumme
2004 – December Special Election
Member #3: James “Nebi” Wabaunsee voted in through Special Election December 2004
2006 – Special Appointment
2006 Tribal Council: Member James “Nebi” Wabaunsee, Member James “Jimmy” Potter, Secretary Stephen Ortiz, Sr. (Monwah), Member Jackie Mitchell, Vice-Chairperson Rey Kitchkumme, Chairperson Tracy Stanhoff, and Treasurer Ryan Dyer.
Chairperson: Tracy Stanhoff appointed by Tribal Council for remainder of term ending in 2006.
2006 to 2010
2004 to 2006 Council: Junior Wahweotten, Jimmy Potter, James Wabaunsee, Jackie Mitchell, Rey Kitchkumme, Tracy Stanhoff and Ryan Dyer
Chairperson: Tracy Stanhoff | Resigned 7/20/2007
Secretary: James “Jimmy” Potter (Wabaunsee)
Member #1: Warren “Junior” A. Wahweotten, Jr.
2007 Special Election
Tribal Council Circa 2007: Junior Wahweotten, James Wabaunsee, Ryan Dyer, Jackie Mitchell, Rey Kitchkumme, Steve Ortiz and Jimmy Potter
Chairperson: Stephen Ortiz, Sr. (Monwah) voted in through Special Election October 2007
2008 to 2012
2008 Council: Secretary Jimmy Potter, Member Chago Hale, Treasurer Ryan Dyer, Member Junior Wahweotten, Member Carrie O’Toole, Chairman Steve Ortiz, Sr., and Vice Chair Joyce Guerrero
Vice Chairperson: Joyce Kitchkommie Guerrero
Treasurer: Ryan Dyer | Discharged from office by Tribal Council 9/21/11
Member #2: Joseph “Chago” W. Hale, Jr. | Discharged from office by Tribal Council in 2010
Member #3: Carrie Wabaunsee O’Toole
2010 Special Appointment
Member #2: Jancita Warrington appointed by Tribal Council for the remainder of term.
2010 to 2014
2010 Council: Treasurer Ryan Dyer, Chairman Steve Ortiz, Sr. Secretary Jimmy Potter, Member Junior Wahweotten, Vice-Chairperson Joyce Guerrero, Member Jancita Warrington, Member Carrie O’Toole
Chairperson: Steve Ortiz, Sr. (Mon-wah)
Secretary: James “Jimmy” Potter (Wabaunsee) | Fatal accident 6/11/14
Member #1: Warren “Junior” A. Wahweotten, Jr.
2011 Special Appointment
2011 Council: Treasurer Noah Wahquahboshkuk, Secretary Jimmy Potter, Chairman Steve Ortiz, Sr., Member Junior Wahweotten, Vice Chair Joyce Guerrero, Member Jancita Warrington, Member Carrie O’Toole
Treasurer: Noah Wahquahboshkuk appointed by Tribal Council for the remainder of term.
2012 to 2016
2012 Council: Member Junior Wahweotten, Member Thomas Wabnum, Secretary Jimmy Potter, Treasurer Hattie Mitchell, Vice Chair Joyce Guerrero, Chairman Steve Ortiz, Sr., Member Carrie O’Toole
Vice Chairperson: Joyce Kitchkommie Guerrero
Treasurer: Hattie Mitchell | Resigned 5/12/16
Member #2: Thomas “Hoppy” Wabnum (Mektewzi)
Member #3: Carrie Wabaunsee O’Toole
2014 to 2018
2014 Council: Treasurer Hattie Mitchell, Member Thomas Wabnum, Member Junior Wahweotten, Chairwoman Liana Onnen, Secretary Camilla Chouteau, Vice Chair Joyce Guerrero, Member Carrie O’Toole
Chairperson: Liana Onnen
Secretary: Camilla Chouteau
Member #1: Warren “Junior” A. Wahweotten, Jr.
2016 to 2020
2016 Council: Member Junior Wahweotten, Member Thomas Wabnum, Vice Chairman Zach Pahmahmie, Treasurer Wade Pahmahmie, Secretary Camilla Chouteau, Chairwoman Liana Onnen, Member Juanita Jessepe
Vice Chairperson: Zach Pahmahmie
Treasurer: Amanda Nioce Barbosa | Resigned February 2017
Member #2: Thomas “Hoppy” Wabnum (Mektewzi) | Relinquished April 2019
Member #3: Carrie Wabaunsee O’Toole | Resigned November 2016
2017 – March Special Election
Member #3: Juanita Jessepe voted in through Special Election March 2017 | Relinquished position April 2018
2017 – Special Election
Treasurer: Wade Pahmahmie voted in through Special Election April 2017
2018 – Special Election
Member #3: Raphael Wahwassuck voted in through Special Election August 2018
2018 to 2022
2018 Council: Treasurer Wade Pahmahmie, Member Raphael Wahwassuck, Member Thomas Wabnum, Member William “Bill” Evans, Chairman Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick, Secretary Camilla Chouteau and Vice-chairman Zach Pahmahmie
Chairperson: Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick
Secretary: Camilla Chouteau
Member #1: William “Bill” Evans
2019 Special Appointment
2019 Council: Treasurer Wade Pahmahmie, Member Raphael Wahwassuck, Vice-Chairman Zach Pahmahmie, Member William Evans, Member Shirley Trull, Chairman Joseph Rupnick, Secretary Camilla Chouteau.
Member #2: Shirley Trull | Appointed May 2019
2020 to 2024
2020 Tribal Council: Treasurer Wade Pahmahmie, Member Raphael Wahwassuck, Member William “Bill” Evans, Member Ronald “Tony” Wahweotten, Jr., Secretary Camilla Chouteau, Chairman Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick, and Vice-Chairman Zach Pahmahmie.
Vice-Chairperson: Zach Pahmahmie
Treasurer: Wade Pahmahmie
Member #2: Tony Wahweotten
Member #3: Raphael Wahwassuck