Road to 24-member Council held unexpected twists

Following a year of contention over whether to allow the Navajo people to vote on reducing the 88-member Navajo Nation Council, voters went to the polls Dec. 15, 2009, in a court-ordered special election and approved a 24-member Council.

The debate continued, however, as opponents argued that the change could not be implemented in time for the November election, and Leupp Chapter voter Tim Nelson challenged the election results and asked the Office of Hearings and Appeals to overturn them.

OHA dismissed Nelson's complaint Jan. 15 and he appealed to the Navajo Nation Supreme Court on Jan. 21. It was a single step, but contributed to an historic shift in the balance of governmental power in the Navajo Nation, with the judicial branch playing a stronger role than it had in years.

After months of written and oral arguments, the Supreme Court on May 28 upheld the special election results and ordered its immediate implementation.

In response to inaction by the usual arbiters of reapportionment, the Navajo Board of Election Supervisors and the Council, the court ordered the president's office to select a plan from several it had created and presented to the public in a series of meetings earlier in the year, and gave the election board a tight deadline to approve it.

On June 11, the election board approved a modified version of the president's plan, creating 24 Council districts, and the Aug. 3 primary went forward as scheduled.

However, the candidate list quickly dispelled notions that new faces would dominate the new Council, as 58 incumbents ran for re-election. In the Nov. 3 general election, many races - and all five in the Eastern Agency - boiled down to incumbent vs. incumbent.

When the dust settled, 16 of the 24 new districts were won by incumbents, including 11 who were facing freshly minted criminal charges that they had misused their discretionary funds.

Winning seats on the Council of 24 are: George Apachito (Alamo/Ramah/Tùhajiilee), LoRenzo Bates (Nenahnezad/Newcomb/San Juan/T'iistoh Sikaad/TsÄ Daa K'aan/Upper Fruitland), Elmer P. Begay (Dilkon/Greasewood Springs/Indian Wells/Teesto/White Cone), Mel Begay (Bahastl'ah/Coyote Canyon/Mexican Springs/Naschitti/Tohatchi), Nelson S. Begaye (Lukachukai/Many Farms/Rock Point/Round Rock/Tsaile-Wheatfields/TsÄ Ch'ÆzhÆ), Russell Begaye (Shiprock);
Also, Katherine Benally (Chilchinbeto/Dennehotso/Kayenta), Joshua Lavar Butler (Tù Nanees DizÆ), Lorenzo Curley (Houck/Klagetoh/Lupton/Nahata Dziil/Wide Ruins), Charles Damon II (BççhççlÆ/Chichiltah/Manuelito/Rock Springs/Tsayatoh/ TsÄ LichÆÆ'), Jonathan Hale (Oak Springs/St. Michaels), Johnny Naize (Blue Gap-Tachee/Cottonwood-Tselani/Low Mountain/Nazlini);
Also, Jonathan Nez (Navajo Mountain/Oljato/Shonto/Ts'ah bii Kin), Leonard Pete (Chinle), Walter Phelps (Birdsprings/Cameron/Coalmine Mesa/Leupp/Tolani Lake), Kenneth Maryboy (Aneth/Mexican Water/Red Mesa/Teec Nos Pos/Tùlikan), Alton Joe Shepherd (Cornfields/Ganado/Jeddito/Kin Dah LichÆÆ/Steamboat), Danny Simpson (Becenti/Crownpoint/Huerfano/Lake Valley/Nageezi/Nahodishgish/TsÄ ÆÆ'çhÆ/Whiterock); and
Roscoe D. Smith (Crystal/Fort Defiance/Red Lake/Sawmill), David L. Tom (Beclabito/Cove/Gadii'ahi-Tokoi/Red Valley/Sheepsprings/Toadlena-Two Grey Hills/TsÄ Alnaozt'i'Æ), Duane S. Tsinigine (Bodaway-Gap/Coppermine/K'ai'bii'tù/LeChee/Red Lake-Tonalea), Leonard Tsosie (Baca-Prewitt/Casamero Lake/Counselor/Littlewater/Ojo Encino/Pueblo Pintado/Torreon/Whitehorse Lake), Dwight Witherspoon (Forest Lake/Hardrock/KÆts'ÆÆlÆ/Piûon/Whippoorwill), Edmund E. Yazzie (Church Rock/Iyanbito/Mariano Lake/Pinedale/Smith Lake/Thoreau).

The victories of two candidates, George Apachito and Walter Phelps, were challenged by the losing candidates, Lawrence Platero and Leonard Chee, respectively. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled against Chee. There was no decision on Platero's complaint as of press time Wednesday.

Incoming delegates charged by the special prosecutor are Apachito, Elmer P. Begay, Mel Begay, Nelson S. Begaye, Curley, Damon, Maryboy, Simpson, Smith, Tom and Yazzie.

NEXT, No. 1 story of 2010: VP, all but 11 delegates face slush-fund charges

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