CORTEZ, Colo. (AP) – Efforts to recall Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Chairman Gary Hayes have taken a step back.

The Cortez Journal reports the tribal council voted last week to rescind a resolution it had passed that called for a recall election of Hayes. The council said the tribe’s constitution doesn’t give it the authority to call a recall election.

Meanwhile, an election board says petitions some tribal members turned in seeking a recall didn’t have enough valid signatures and contained factual discrepancies.

Sarah Tallbird-Watts helped lead the recall effort and says recall leaders are considering legal action.

The recall petitions were circulated following disagreements about how funds from a federal settlement would be distributed.

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Information from: Cortez Journal, http://www.cortezjournal.com/