Tribal Council Elected Officials:
The General Council elects Tribal Council Officials pursuant to the Election Procedures & Ordinance. Tribal Council Officials consist of five (5) elected officials voted into office by the adult Tribal Membership. Tribal Council oversees all Tribal Government day-to-day business on behalf of the Tribe.
General Council Tribal Membership:
The General Council is comprised of the adult Tribal Membership, who are eighteen (18) years of age and older. The General Council conducts duly called monthly meetings to review all reporting and business of the Tribe. The General Council reserves all rights to enter the Tribe into financial obligations and/or economic development on behalf of the Tribe.
Jose Simon III., Tribal Chairman: Elected June 2012 – May 2021 Jose (Moke) Simon III was born and raised in Middletown, California. Mr. Simon returns as the current Tribal Chairman and previously served in the position of Tribal Chairman of Middletown Rancheria for 12 years. His responsibilities include leading and representing the Middletown Rancheria in all major decisions directly involving all entities of the Tribe, which include but are not limited to overseeing all Tribal Government Operations. As the Chairman, he oversaw all aspects of construction of a new 15,000 square foot gaming facility and during his recent time off as Chairman, worked in the maintenance department of the Twin Pine Casino & Hotel. On behalf of the Tribe, Mr. Simon also negotiated with the State of California and acquired the gaming compact for the Middletown Rancheria. He assisted to acquire the Mount St. Helena Brewing Co., an off Reservation business, as the Tribe’s first Economic Development venture, and helped negotiate to close the deal for the $47.5 million to build and construct the new Twin Pine Casino & Hotel gaming facility, which was completed in 2009. Mr. Simon was the winner of the 2016 National Indian Gaming Association’s (NIGA) highest tribal leader award the Wendell Chino Humanitarian Award. Chairman Simon’s leadership was instrumental to an entire community affected by what is now known as The Valley Fire — one of the most destructive fires in California history, which burned 76,067 acres in September of 2015. Mr. Simon brings to the Tribe a substantial amount of knowledge and passion. As an avid sports fan and former professional football player with the NFL Indianapolis Colts, AFL Arizona Rattlers, WFL Barcelona Dragons in Spain and Scottish Claymores in Scotland as World Champions, he also attended Butte College and Texas A&M. He volunteers at the local high school as the defensive coach for the varsity football team. To add to his accomplishments he was elected by the County of Lake in 2017 for the District 1 Board of Supervisors. Mr. Simon lives on the reservation with his wife and son, and is very involved with his grandchildren.
Larry Galupe, Tribal Vice-Chair: Elected Jan 2023 – 2026I am newly elected as Vice Chairman as of July 24, 2023. I am very humbled and honored to be nominated for this position by Tribal Elders. I would like to thank all the members of the Tribe who voted for me.
I am the current Vice Chairman for the North Coast Tourism Council. This council consists of Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. I was also the past Chairman of the Lake County Tourism Improvement Development Committee. I am on the Lake County Wine Association Board.
I joined Twin Pine Casino and Hotel as the Director of Hotel Operations in April 2011. I was part of the Twin Pine Casino and Hotel Executive Management Team. I was part of the original management team when Twin Pine Casino opened in 1994 as the Vault and Cage Manager.
I was the Director of Tribal Housing and Community Development at the Tule River Reservation in Porterville, California from 2007-2010. I lived and worked in San Diego, California for a casino tracking Software Company based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. I worked for several other large corporations in the medical field, banking, electronics field and data management.
I am a Tribal Member of Middletown Rancheria and my mother was Pauline Silvas Galupe Vasquez she was born and raised on the Middletown Rancheria. I was elected to the Middletown Rancheria Tribal Council from 2001-2003 as Tribal Council Representative.
I live in Middletown, California in the County of Lake. I love spending time with my family: sisters and brother, cousins and numerous nephews and nieces.
Kristina Lord, Tribal Treasurer: Elected Jan 2021-2023Kristina Lord is serving her first term on Tribal Council as Treasure. She was proudly raised on the Middletown Rancheria. Growing up on the Rancheria, her mother, Mildred Simon, filled her with the encouragement from a young age to serve her people. Mildred was born and raised on the Middletown Rancheria. Kristina has proudly raised her children here as well. Growing up here, close to family, close to the culture, she was raised knowing where she is from. Her commitment to her people has made her humble, as she has served our Tribe in many ways. She has provided invaluable service to our tribal economy by working in many different roles as Revenue Auditing Supervisor, Cash Cage & Vault Manager, Hotel Housekeeping, Gaming Commission Compliance Officer, and Gaming Commission Surveillance Officer. For every one of these positions, she worked tirelessly in discharging her duties, and she worked with pride.
P.O. Box 1035
22223 Hwy 29 Rancheria Rd
Middletown, CA 95461
p. 707.987.3670
f. 707.987.9091
2025 © Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California. All rights reserved.
