Court ruling draws praise in Chinle

Most respondents in an informal poll here in President Joe Shirley Jr.'s hometown reacted positively Friday to the news that the Navajo Nation Supreme Court had ruled that Shirley could not be placed on leave by the Navajo Nation Council and the council reduction will go ahead as planned.

"That's good!" exclaimed Judy Hunter, 56, of Chinle, when she was told. Six of nine people interviewed in Smith's Café and waiting in line at the local Wells Fargo branch agreed.

"If it's the people's vote, they need to go along with that," said Rough Rock, Ariz., marathon runner Harrison Begay, 52. "Our leaders always say, 'I'm the people's leader. I represent the people.' But it doesn't look like that until the Supreme Court says so."

"The court made the right decision," echoed Chinle High School valedictorian Katy Gorman. "The Council were pretty biased in the whole thing. They negated everyone else's opinion and took it upon themselves to decide what was best for us."

Travis Teller, 29, of Tsaile, Ariz., said Central Agency has been rooting for its native son all along.

"The community really supports Joe Shirley," he said. "He's a very helpful person."

"What the council is doing is not right," agreed Bennie Smith, 68, proprietor of Smith's Café. "The president is supposed to be a leader."

That doesn't reflect everyone's views, of course. Raymond Etsitty, 46, of Many Farms, Ariz., said Shirley lost his support when he decided to run for a third term.

"It's ridiculous," he said. "He wants to start a commotion. He knows better."

Louise Yellowhair, 51, of Black Mesa, Ariz., hailed the Supreme Court decision not so much because she's pro-Shirley but because she's had it with the council.

"We have some kids who need to go to college," she said, "but between the (council's) travel, the rings and the computers, there's no money left for scholarships."

Both Sheree Sam, 20, of Tsaile, and Bob Gilroy, 66, of Chinle, begged to differ. Neither one is for council reduction.

"I don't think too much power should go to the president," Sam said. "The council has been there longer. They know what's best for the people."

Added Gilroy, "I think we need more than 24 people to run the council. They don't have time for us now - with 24 you're never going to see them."

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