A longtime Chumash tribal leader has been elected as the tribe’s new chairman.
Kenny Kahn was elected by members of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians during a special election this month. Kahn has been a member of the tribe’s Business Council for more than a decade. He grew up in the Santa Ynez Valley, and is well known in Santa Barbara County for his work with non-profit groups.
Kahn will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Vincent Armenta last month, who left after being accepted at a premiere culinary school on the East Coast.
The tribe is the owner of the Chumash Casino in the Santa Ynez Valley, and has numerous business and property holdings in the community. Kahn oversee managment of the tribes businesses, and will also take a lead role in negotiations with Santa Barbara County in the tribe's controversial expansion efforts in the Valley.
