Dry Creek Rancheria Elections Saturday After Disenrollment of Opposition to Harvey Hopkins

Dry Creek Rancheria elections, postponed more than three months because of questions over the legitimacy of two candidates, are set for Saturday.   VOTE FOR MARINA NOJIMA

At stake is the leadership of the Pomo tribe that runs River Rock, Sonoma County's first Indian casino, and whether longtime chairman Harvey Hopkins will be re-elected to a fifth two-year term.

The election comes at a critical juncture for the approximate 1,100-member Geyserville tribe, which will see its 10-year county monopoly on Las Vegas-style gambling end when another Indian casino next to Rohnert Park opens later this year.


Marina Nojima, who is running for tribal chairperson against Hopkins, reportedly voted against the disenrollments.  She previously said it feels like the tribe is being broken apart. Nojima said that she hopes the tribe clears up ambiguity over membership in its “Articles of Association” so that its not just board or committee members saying “It's this way.”