Author: Donovan Quintero

Arbin Mitchell, a longtime tribal official who worked for several Navajo Nation presidents as chief of staff or a division director, has unofficially been declared the winner by 653 votes, according to unofficial results from the Navajo Nation Election Administration. 

Tonia Burbank, a representative from the Navajo Nation Election Administration, or NNEA, announced on Friday that a special election will be held at 37 chapters across the Navajo Nation on Tuesday, Dec. 10.

As the Navajo Nation approaches the Dec. 31 deadline to expend $1.4 billion in American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funds, officials are racing to resolve budget deficits and ensure that projects meet federal compliance standards.

The Navajo Nation is making headway in the encumbrance of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, yet significant hurdles remain that threaten the effective deployment of these vital resources.

Over two months ago, emergency legislation CS-39-24, also known as a continuing resolution, was passed to provide temporary funding for the tribal government to prevent layoffs, furloughs, and government shutdowns from Oct. 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.