Marcellus Osceola Jr.
Marcellus William Osceola Jr. (born in 1972) is the current and 7th Tribal Council Chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Osceola won a special election in 2016 to replace James Billie, who was ousted following a recall petition[1] and was re-elected to a full term in 2019.[2]
Marcellus W. Osceola Jr. | |
|---|---|
| 7th Tribal Council Chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2017 | |
| Deputy | Mitchell Cypress |
| Preceded by | James A. Billie |
Osceola is the grandson of Bill Osceola, the tribe's first Tribal Chairman, serving from 1957 to 1967.
Osceola first ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Board of Directors of the Seminole Tribe of Florida Inc., which manages the tribe's non-gaming business interests, in 2003 and was finally elected in 2009 on his third try. In 2011, he was elected as the Hollywood District representative to the Tribal Council.[3]
An entrepreneur, Osceola ran a limousine company, lawn company, and seafood company prior to becoming chairman.[3] He lives on the Hollywood Seminole Reservation.[4]
In 2019, Osceola informed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that the tribe would end annual casino payments to the state due to a long-running dispute over other gambling activities in the state.[2]
References
- Sortal, Nick (November 1, 2016). "Marcellus Osceola wins election to head Seminole Tribe". Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
- Gross, Samantha J.; Mahoney, Emily L. (May 14, 2019). "Seminole Tribe stops $350 million annual casino payments to state". Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
- Bidney, Beverly (March 16, 2017). "Chairman Osceola Settles Into New Role". The Seminole Tribune. Hollywood, Florida. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
- Sweeney, Dan (November 1, 2016). "Seminole Tribe elects new chairman". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Deerfield Beach, Florida. Retrieved May 22, 2019.