A wealth of experience and the responsibility to step up are no match for a short, five-month term as Les Minthorn showed.

In a special election July 5, Minthorn was named chairman of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s board of trustees. His 160 of the 478 votes led the other candidates: Antone Minthorn, 126; Julie Taylor, 90; and Aaron Hines, 73, according to the East Oregonian.

Minthorn was chairman of the tribe from 1974 – 1980 during which he helped write the tribes constitution and comprehensive plan in 1979. He also, served as treasurer from 1998 – 2007. Combine that with his service on the tribal gaming commission, the housing authority, the law and order committee, the farming and enterprise committee and the tribe gets a solid and knowledgeable chairman.

Minthorn focused his candidacy on returning the tribe to its core values.

He will be sworn in on July 11 at the Nixyaawii Governance Center.