Long-time politician aims for top spot

Don Benally has been in Navajo politics for most of his adult life so it shouldn't come as a surprise that he is a candidate for president.

During the 1980s, he was a powerful political figure in his position as council delegate for Shiprock Chapter.

His political career was halted in 1989 when Chairman Peter MacDonald Sr. was suspended by the council and Benally was one of 12 MacDonald supporters who were convicted in connection with the ensuing riot. He served the longest prison term of any in the group.

"Those years in prison made me mentally strong, older and wiser," Benally says now.

When he returned, his supporters in Shiprock welcomed him back.

"Traditionally, you can't dwell on the past," he said. "You have to learn from it and use it as a lesson."

Born near Beclabito, N.M., in 1951, Benally graduated from Ignacio High School in Colorado. He attended City College in San Francisco where he received an associate degree in criminal justice. He served almost three years in the Army, including a tour in Vietnam. He worked for four years at DNA-People's Legal Service under Zah.

"DNA made me a politician," Benally said.

He decided in the mid-1970s to practice as a legal advocate in Shiprock. At the urging of the late Annie Wauneka, he became vice president of the Navajo Area School Board Association. Then New Mexico Gov. Bruce King named him chairman of the state's Indian Affairs Commission.

He became the first Native American elected to the San Juan County Commission.

After serving as Shiprock Chapter president for a term, Benally was elected to the council.
Benally says he made it a practice to work with whoever was in power.

"I didn't agree with everything that Zah or MacDonald did, especially when it came to MacDonald and the Hopis," he said, referring to MacDonald's confrontational style in the Navajo-Hopi land dispute.

Benally said he is extremely proud of his decision to work with Zah to establish the Permanent Trust Fund for the benefit of future generations.

"Not everyone in the council was for it but I'm glad now that it became a reality," he said.

When Benally came back to Shiprock after prison, friends urged him to get involved in politics again and he ran successfully for chapter vice president, the position he now holds.

He's running for president, he said Tuesday, because there are needs that are not being met.

"Our biggest needs are jobs," he said.

He said he plans to be a champion for employees of the Navajo Nation, who have seen their retirement funds raided by the council for other purposes.

"The tribal employees are the backbone of our government and I will see to it that these funds are returned," he said.

Benally said the time has come to set up satellite chapters in cities like Phoenix, Denver and Albuquerque, he said.

Benally's father was African American and his maternal grandmother was a Choctaw from Mississippi. His maternal grandfather is Tó'aheedlíinii (Water Flows Together Clan).

Benally's wife, Joanne, died several months ago of cancer. He has four children - Dineh, Dinadha, Marcus and Roxanne.

Benally said he is setting up campaign offices in Shiprock and St. Michaels, Ariz.

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