Eastern voters ready for a woman president

The buzz around Crownpoint-area chapters is that native daughter Lynda Lovejoy is the favorite to be the next Navajo Nation president.

"We all know that last time she almost won," said Annie, a Crownpoint resident who declined to give her last name. "All the candidates do is talk and make promises. They make promises that never go through.

"I hope Lovejoy comes through," she said. "I really haven't heard anything from the other candidates but I think she's doing good."

At Lovejoy's campaign booth all three tables were constantly filled with patrons eating during Tuesday's primary, which she swept in the Eastern Agency, where voters sounded out of patience with the current administration.

"They all say they will make changes but nothing has changed," said Nelson Huskon of Crownpoint. "Everything is the still the same with Shirley. Nothing's changed. Like our jails. We've been getting hit with crimes and the people who commit crimes are being let out.

"Hopefully they hear my voice," Huskon said. "We need improvements. Our schools are somewhere between 50 to 60 years old. We also need better education for our children and better teachers.

"This year we're trying for Lovejoy," he said. "I heard her voice during the forums on the radio. I didn't get to hear everything she said but I hope she does what she says."

"I support Lovejoy for a number of reasons," said Brent Yazzie, also of Crownpoint. "She's highly experienced and knows her state politics. I'm sure with her experience she has political connections.

"If the late Wilma Mankiller can lead her people, I think Lovejoy can too," he said. "There are a lot of reasons that older men will argue that a woman leader isn't good. I don't see why not because we get our identity from our mothers.

"As it is now a lot of guys just lay around while the women work," Yazzie said. "Then for some, they have to ask permission from their wives in order to do things."

If any Eastern Agency voters were hesitant to vote for a woman, they weren't saying it out loud Tuesday. Instead, they said the time for change is now and that women are coming to the forefront as leaders.

Voters at Mariano Lake believe Shelly was favored only because of his current position as vice president.

"I think it will be the guy from Thoreau (Shelly)," said Leonard Sandoval of Mariano Lake. "I've been living out of state for work and I just came back for voting and family. I'm not sure who's running. I'm out of touch with politics."

At Church Rock, one resident relocated from the Western Agency for work and believes that with new leadership, new changes need to be made.

"I support Donald Benally," said Rhodalynn Harrison, who moved here from Tuba City in December. Benally, she said, is "leaning more to what needs to be done."

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