Tribal Council

Elections are held every 2 years in November. The Tribe is organized under Articles of Association approved in July 1961 and later amended in 1973 and 1980. Current Executive Committee members are:

• Tribal Chairman — Robert Smith
• Vice Chairman — Leroy Miranda
• Secretary — Kilma S. Lattin
• Treasurer — Theresa J. Nieto
• Council Member — Dion Perez
• Council Member — Annalee Yanez

Robert H. Smith — Tribal Chairman

Robert H. Smith serves as Chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, a position he has held since 1987. Chairman Smith successfully negotiated the first Tribal-State compact in California with Governor Pete Wilson in 1996, and subsequently supervised the opening of Pala Casino, creating thousands of jobs for tribal members and area residents. Chairman Smith’s work for the Pala Tribe includes providing health, vision and dental insurance for all members, creating a $1.5 million home loan program, launching a $300,000 scholarship fund for higher education, purchasing additional land for the Tribal cemetery and securing 24-hour on-site ambulance, firefighter and paramedic service for the Pala Reservation. Chairman Smith is also responsible for the opening of the Pala Library and Pala Child Care Center. 

Chairman Smith is a member of the California Tribal Business Alliance, San Luis Rey Indian Water Authority, Southern California Tribal Chairman Association, San Diego Association of Governments, Indian Health Council for North San Diego County, Pala Housing Authority, Pala Fire Department, National Fire Protection Agency, California State Fireman Association, Vivian Banks Charter School Parent Advisory Board and the Cupa Cultural Center. He also serves as Chairman of the California Indian Manpower Consortium and as a delegate on the National Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Leaders Budget Committee, the National Indian Gaming Association and the National Congress of American Indians and the National Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Board.

Chairman Smith resides on the Pala Reservation in Northern San Diego County with his wife. He has four children; Catherine, Victoria, Lorraine and stepdaughter Jodi. Chairman Smith is the great grandson of Lizzie Blacktooth and the grandson of Annie Moro.  His parents are Victor and Marie Smith. He has one sister and one brother.  A graduate of Fallbrook High School, Chairman Smith enjoys spending time with family, riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle and attending ball games.

Leroy H. Miranda Jr. — Vice-Chairman

Resides on the Pala Indian Reservation with wife and family. Graduate of Sherman Indian High School. Enjoys cultural activities, listening to Native American music, traveling and spending time with family members. Vice-Chairman since 2001.

Kilma S. Lattin — Tribal Secretary

Mr. Lattin grew up in La Jolla, California, and graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with Bachelor’s degrees in both History (with honors) and Communications. Mr. Lattin has also received executive education from Harvard University, the JFK School of Government.

Mr. Lattin is a former United States Army military aviation officer who has flown both the AH-64 Apache helicopter and the OH-58 Kiowa. While serving, Mr. Lattin received the prestigious Soldier's Medal for Valor.

Elected to the Tribal Council in 2005, Mr. Lattin has helped with the comprehensive development of the Pala community, assisting with the drafting of social and administrative policy on the Pala Reservation. He has also assisted in drafting and ratifying tribal ordinances, policies and resolutions (Executive and General) as well as Constitutional amendments.

In addition, Mr. Lattin oversaw the digital archiving of all official tribal records, dating back to 1992. Other projects include: the formation of a tribal judicial court system in 2006; the development of a DNA testing procedure to safeguard tribal enrollment eligibility; obtaining a Non-Commerical Educational radio station construction permit from the FCC; establishing a permitting process for vendors; and construction oversight of a 22,000 square-foot skateboard park.

Mr. Lattin has been very active in promoting tribal veteran affairs, such as the establishment of a Pala Veteran's Center, the Pala Veteran's Club as well as the renovation of the veteran's memorial in the tribal cemetery.

Mr. Lattin was elected to sit on the Pala Utility Board and is the Tribe's alternate delegate to the National Indian Gaming Association.  He continues to fly helicopters as a hobby, and completed an Ironman Triathlon in 2008.

Theresa J. Nieto — Tribal Treasurer

Resides on the Pala Indian Reservation with husband and family. Graduate of Escondido High School and North County Business College. Enjoys watching ball games, traveling, going to the beach and spending time with her family. Tribal Treasurer since 2001. 

Dion Perez — Tribal Council Member

Resides on the Pala Indian Reservation with wife and family. Graduate of Fallbrook High School. Council Member since 2001. 

Annalee Yanez — Tribal Council Member

Resides on the Pala Indian Reservation with husband and family. Graduate of Escondido High School. Currently seeking Certificate of Business Management through Palomar College. Enjoys pop-warner football and spending time with family members. Council member since 2005. 

Chairman Robert H. Smith

Pala Band of Mission Indians

Chairman Smith’s views on issues important to Native American’s include:

Employment:

“We need to continue to develop, create and expand new tribal business enterprises that will provide more jobs and long-term employment opportunities for Native Americans.  We need to will seek out new avenues for tribal enterprise development, such as gaming, entertainment, and real estate.”

Water Resources:

“We [La Jolla, Pala, Pauma, Rincon and the San Pasqual Bands of Mission Indians] have come together as one body to be a political advocate for the tribes – to fight for our water rights, address tribes’ water needs, and help tribes develop and use their water in the right way.  As we seek our fair share of water allocation, we must consider what continued opportunities are available to us as owners of this valuable resource.”

Health:

"The future of health care for Native Indians is intertwined with policy decisions at the federal level and changes in mainstream health care management.  We must continue to provide a full range of health services to tribal members.”

Fire Protection:

"We must commit ourselves to protecting the health and safety of the people living on and visiting reservations.  We must seek out resources to assure delivery of the services and assistance that people need.  Together we can make positive improvements for the betterment of the department and those on the reservation.” 

Education:

"For too many Native Americans, the dream of a college education is either a crippling burden or just that – a far away dream.  We must commit ourselves to making college education more accessible than ever before and seek out new funding sources and expand our educational programs at all levels, from youth to adult.”

Tribal Member/Reservation Resources:

“The most basic responsibility of tribal leaders is to provide a variety of social, governmental, administrative, educational, health and welfare services for tribal members.  Over the years Native Americans have made progress in these areas, but there is much more to be done.  We need to continue to dedicate ourselves to improving the quality of life of all of our members.”