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CAPE FEAR MEMORIAL BRIDGE CLOSURE: UPDATES, RESOURCES, AND CONTEXT

Lumbee's New Chairman Ready for Work

By Laurin Penland

Wilmington, NC – Newly elected Chairman of the Lumbee Tribe Purnell Swett says his first order-of-business will be to hire a tribe administrator. A tribe administrator is much like a municipal administrator, and the Lumbees haven't had one in three years.

Swett says another item on his agenda is gaining full federal recognition for the Lumbee tribe, though he avoided being specific when it came to strategies.

"Right now I can only say I intend to uphold the Lumbee Constitution and be the best advocate I can for my people and try to find funds everywhere I can."

Swett was superintendent for Robeson County until he resigned in 1997 after paying himself thousands of dollars in unauthorized back pay.

He says his experience as superintendent as well as with the federal government, will help him lead the Lumbee people.

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