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Ten American Indian candidates from tribes all over the country will interview Thursday for the Utah director of Indian Affairs job that was left vacant by Forrest Cuch, who was fired in February for what Gov. Gary Herbert said was insubordination.
Michael Hansen, acting executive director for the Department of Community and Culture, said the plan is to whittle down the group to "three or four candidates" and submit them to the governor for him to personally interview.
"We got a huge response to the job opening," Hansen said. "The candidates were so strong, we couldn't narrow it down to fewer than 10 to interview."
He would not say which tribes would be represented in the interview process.
The Office of Indian Affairs has been without a director since Herbert fired Cuch when the former head canceled the Utah Native American Summit — a program initiated by Herbert when he was still the state's lieutenant governor. Cuch has denied that charge and said recently that the assessment was "incorrect."
Hansen, who was making a presentation Wednesday to the Workforce Services and Community and Economic Development Interim Committee at the Capitol, said he will join Lt. Gov. Greg Bell and representatives of five of the seven tribes in Utah.
One of the largest tribes, the Utes, has indicated it will not participate in the process. Cuch is a member of the Ute Tribe.
The Office of Indian Affairs is under the umbrella of the Department of Community and Culture, but that entire entity is under scrutiny of the Legislature and Herbert's office. Hansen is expected to deliver a report in August that outlines the missions and goals for the department and the candidates for the Office of Indian Affairs director will be expected to outline their vision for its future.
"Obviously there will be an emphasis on economic development," Hansen said. "That is one of the governor's priorities."
Hansen said the administration would like to have a director in place by June.
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Christopher Smart contributed to this report.