TULALIP — Don “Penoke” Hatch Jr. and Mark Hatch were elected as two of the seven members of the Tulalip Tribal Board of Directors March 13, after polling at the Tulalip Resort and 983 votes cast by Tulalip Tribal membership.

Officers of the Board were also elected, following the polling and during the annual General Council meeting on the same date. During voting from the floor of the General Council, Tribal members re-elected Mel Sheldon Jr. as chair and Chuck James as treasurer. Marlin Fryberg Jr. is now vice chairman and Marie M. Zackuse is newly elected as secretary. The elected Board members and officers will be sworn in and take office at the Board meeting on either April 2 or 3.

“During General Council, our Board and Tribal membership honored retiring Board member Stan Jones Sr. for his 44 years of dedicated service to our people,” Sheldon said.

Numerous people spoke to Jones, during a presentation reviewing his tenure, to thank him for all that he’s done for the community.

“His leadership, including 24 years as our Tribal chair, helped guide our economic development, which in turn allowed us to provide education assistance, health and dental services, a senior retirement home, cultural activities, housing, and child and social services for our people,” Sheldon said. “Replacing his leadership and experience will be difficult, but we’re pleased to welcome back longtime Board member Don Hatch as a step in that direction.”

Sheldon also touted Mark Hatch’s election as giving the Board “additional expertise in the area of law enforcement.”