TEMECULA -- Mark Macarro will continue serving as chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians as a result of an election Saturday that attracted the tribe's largest voter turnout ever, according to information released by the tribal secretary Sunday.

Macarro, 40, the tribe's chairman for nine years, was elected to a two-year term with 440 votes, 69 percent of the total. His challenger, Norman Pico Sr., 64, received 214 votes, 31 percent. With his victory, Macarro won his sixth bid for re-election.

"It is an honor to be elected to serve the Pechanga people in any capacity," Macarro said in a written release. "I'm humbled and consider it a privilege serving Pechanga as tribal chairman. I believe that our tribal members know the fairness and diligence I try to bring to all of our issues."

Pico, 64, a longtime activist in tribal issues, said Sunday he is taking the results of the election in stride. Pico said it was his first bid for the tribal chairman's post.

"I'm disappointed, but I've been in tribal politics for a long time," Pico said. "Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, and this time I lost."

In addition to the chairman's post, the tribe also voted on membership in the tribal council, the band's primary governing body.

While the voters stuck with the status quo in the tribe's top spot, the tribal council will experience some turnover.

Incumbents Russell "Butch" Murphy, 54, and John Magee, 41, were re-elected with 377 votes and 284 votes, respectively. Newcomers to the council are Marc Luker, 29, with 374 votes, Andrew Masiel Sr., 49, with 324 votes, Marc Calac, 34, with 324 votes, and Donna Masiel, 43, with 283 votes.

Pico, however, said he did not view the changes as reflecting disillusionment with the old regime.

"As in past elections, you never know what's going to happen," Pico said. "Sometimes there's a whole new council and sometimes the council remains in place. Times change and I don't see this election as being any different than in the past. It was supposed to be more heated, but it wasn't anything unusual."

There was more participation than usual, as 83 percent of the electorate cast votes, the most in tribal history, the secretary's release states.

Greater interest in the election may have been sparked by a controversy over the tribal enrollment committee's decision in March to oust about 130 members, depriving them of income generated by the Pechanga Resort & Casino, one of the most successful Indian gambling ventures in the state. The ousted members have appealed the committee's decision and have unsuccessfully sued in state court in an attempt to overturn the committee's ruling.

Pico, however, said he didn't believe the election would affect the issue.

"I don't think it has anything to do with the enrollment," Pico said.

Macarro was born in San Bernardino and has a political science degree from UC Santa Barbara. He is most known for his leadership in two voters' initiatives that opened the way for slot machines in Indian casinos.

He attributed the election turnout to the tribe's faith in democratic principles.

"Such an amazing level of participation demonstrates confidence in our tribal processes and shows the vitality of our electorate," he said. "It clearly demonstrates that the Pechanga people have a healthy democracy."

Contact staff writer Michael J. Williams at (909) 676-4315, Ext. 2635, or mwilliams@californian.com.