Barry Snyder Sr. has been elected president of the Seneca Nation of Indians for a fifth time, returning to a post he last held from 2008 to 2010.
The tribe announced late last night that Snyder had received 929 votes compared to 704 for Tribal Council Chairman Richard Nephew. Four other candidates also ran for president of the 8,000-member tribe.
The Seneca constitution allows presidents to serve more than one term, but not consecutively. Snyder succeeds Robert Odawi Porter.
With three casinos in western New York, the tribe is among the region's biggest employers.
Snyder steps in amid a standoff with New York state that's stalled the Senecas' payment of $460 million in casino proceeds to the state and cities of Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Salamanca. The Senecas say the state has violated a 2002 compact promising them exclusive casino rights.