Olean Star

When J.C. Seneca takes the oath of office as Seneca Nation president on Tuesday, his thoughts will include his father, William Seneca, who served as president from 1968-70.

Seneca will be sworn in as president at the Seneca Allegany Casino and Event Center. He said some of the best things he ever learned from his father were “patience, fortitude and follow through.”

Having a good connection and relationship with people is very important, Seneca said in a telephone interview with the Olean Star on Thursday. Listening is very important. Other points of view often help provide a solution. “My father was very good at this,” he added.

One of Seneca’s first orders of business will be to set up a number of community meetings to ask the Seneca people what they want. The number one topic is likely to be negotiations with New York state over a new gaming compact.

“We are in a kind of pause (in negotiations) due to the election,” Seneca said. While he’s not sure when the Nation will re-engage in negotiations with state officials, “My priority is to engage with the people. I want to bring them up to date with the negotiations and look for their ideas. What do they want?” Likely topics will be exclusivity and revenue sharing percentage.

Seneca spoke of unifying the Seneca people and fighting drug addiction on the Allegany and Cattaraugus territories during the campaign and plans to follow through on those promises.

As a member of the Tribal Council and a former treasurer, Seneca has learned from other Seneca leaders including Kelly John and JoJo Redeye. “There is always an opportunity to learn,” he said.

This was Seneca’s fourth campaign for Seneca president. “I was 0 for 3, now I’m 1 for 4,” he said. “The Creator has a path for us – when it’s right for you. This is my time.”

Also elected last Tuesday were Treasurer Al George and Clerk Lenith Waterman, also endorsed by the Seneca Party. 

Seneca’s path to the president’s office started when he won the Seneca Party primary over Treasurer Matthew Pagels. He was challenged in the Nov. 5 election by Mike General. Seneca posted 87% of the vote in that race.

“We’re really off and running,” Seneca said. “I’m ready. We’ve got a great team. Everybody is on the same page and has the best interest of the Seneca people at heart. We want to keep the Nation moving forward.”

Seneca said he got some advice from President Rickey L. Armstrong Sr., who ran for and won a seat on the Tribal Council.

Seneca said while he served on the Tribal Council, “We worked together all the time. We’re always learning from other people.” 

“I have spent the last four months traveling throughout the Seneca Nation Territories meeting with people and talking about the issues,” Seneca stated. “With tonight’s election, it is my goal to take all I have learned in that time and blend it into my platform of ‘unifying the Seneca People.’ That is the only way we will  bring members of the Seneca Nation together as a community and as a nation;  address the many issues we face, and find solutions that will work for all of us.”

Seneca launched his Presidential Candidacy in August by addressing the core critical issues facing the Seneca Nation including the unresolved Class III Gaming Compact with New York State, continually rising drug and alcohol addictions, and protecting the  financial stability of the Nation.

“While many become involved with government for power, my purpose is to do all I can to lead the Nation with a vision of unifying us and improving our quality of life. I am humbled to serve in this office that my father, William Seneca, held in 1968, and to follow in that legacy of leadership within my family. I can’t wait to get started working to move our people forward together as a Nation, ruled by a government that is inclusive and where people have a voice.”

Current Seneca President Rickey Armstrong Sr., sought and won Seneca Party nomination as councilor on the Allegany Territory in the November election. 

J.C. Seneca  will now appear on the endorsed Seneca Party slate of candidates in the Nation’s General Election set for Tuesday, Nov. 5. In acknowledging the significance of the victory, the newly-endorsed candidate reflected on his family history.

“I am very grateful to have earned the opportunity to run for a position that my father held back in the 1960’s. I am also grateful that my campaign platform of ‘unifying the Seneca People’ resonated with voters in such a strong way. Now we have to work hard to win the election on Nov. 5. It is time that we move forward together as a Nation, ruled by a government that is inclusive and where people have a voice.” 

The Seneca Party is the dominant party in Seneca Nation politics. A president may not succeed themself, but often in the past a president runs for treasurer while the treasurer runs for president and treasurer must come from different territories.

For more information about the J.C. Seneca Campaign for President: https://jcsenecapresident.com/