Begay throws hat in the ring for state senate

Posted by Arlyssa Becenti | Apr 14, 2016 | Politics |

Steven C. Begay

ST. MICHAELS, Ariz.

Navajo Voters Coalition agent Steven C. Begay announced that he will be running for Arizona State Senate for Legislative District 7.

Begay is not new to the election process and political realm as he was the cultural advisor to disqualified Navajo Nation President Chris Deschene while he campaigned for office.

He has also worked under different Navajo Nation presidential administrations including Leonard Haskie, Albert Hale and both of Joe Shirley Jr.’s terms. It was only recently that Begay decided to get into the political game himself by announcing his candidacy for state senate at St. Michael Chapter House on April 8.

“Maybe I can do some good, I hope I can,” said Begay. “As time went along this opened up, and I thought maybe this is a career shift for me. This is a new avenue for me.”

Begaye, who is originally from Coalmine Mesa but resides in St. Michaels, graduated from Arizona State University in accountancy. He had previously been employed as a senior accountant with Navajo Head Start Program and worked as the Program Manager at the Tuba City Agency office. He was also the General Manager of the Diné Power Authority for 11 years and directed the development of the Navajo transmission Project.

He was also the executive director of the Office of Navajo Tax Commission and served as the executive director of the Division of Economic Development.

During the announcement of his candidacy, Begay touched base with what he described as platforms that will evolve throughout his campaign. The platforms are concentrated on improving the work force on the Navajo Nation by way of: funding new job training; offering re-training in jobs that require high use of technology; incentives for students to participate in training; assist workers who become displaced by new technology and obsolescence; eliminate barriers that hinder new training programs …