Holly Tiger won a special election Aug. 10 to become president of the Seminole Tribe of Florida Inc. (STOFI) – the tribe’s business arm.

Tribal secretary LaVonne Rose certified the results of the election to fill the position left vacant by the unexpected death of James Holt II, who died June 8 at 44, just three days after he was inaugurated.

Tiger, who is the first female president of the tribe, earned 266 votes in a four-person race that included former President Mitchell Cypress (220 votes), former Brighton Board Rep. Helene Buster (178 votes) and former Trial Court Chief Judge Moses B. Osceola (91 votes).

Tiger joins Hollywood Board Rep. Christine McCall, Big Cypress Board Rep. Nadine Bowers, and newcomer Brighton Board Rep. Bryan Arledge on the board. Chairman Marcellus W. Osceola Jr. serves as board vice-president. STOFI is a section 17 federal corporation in which each enrolled tribal member is a shareholder.

“I’m very excited to work with Holly,” Rep. McCall said. “The board is more educated than ever and has a healthy financial position. I can’t wait to hear her ideas and collaborate as a team with the other board members to bring more success to our shareholders.”

As STOFI president, Tiger also serves as vice-chair of Tribal Council, which includes Chairman Osceola, Hollywood Councilman Chris Osceola, Big Cypress Councilwoman Mariann Billie and Brighton Councilman Larry Howard.

From Hollywood, Tiger has many years of experience working for the tribe. She was a former liaison to then-President Richard Bowers and was the tribe’s housing director. Tiger was also instrumental in the creation of the tribe’s Native Learning Center in Hollywood and was its executive director. She earned a law degree from Nova Southeastern University.

“As president of the board of directors, I commit to fulfilling our mission together of long-term economic development and diversification of revenue for the benefit of every shareholder,” she said on her campaign website. “I pledge to serve our people first. Working together will make us all stronger. Together, we will honor our past, strengthen our present, and build our future.”

Officials said a swearing-in date for Tiger is forthcoming.