Looking for someone to 'clean house' in Western

Anyone driving past the parking lot of the Tóh Nanees Dizí Chapter House on Tuesday could see that something special was underway. It was full of trucks, cars and tents.

Savoring the excitement along with her bowl of stew, complements of council candidate Raymond Maxx, was Laura Deschine, 72.

Deschine, of Tuba City, was one of the early birds to cast her vote, arriving about 8 a.m. In true Navajo style, two hours later she was still hanging out and enjoying the day.

As she ate, Deschine talked about her voting experience - no waiting in line - and about the candidates she chose.

For council delegate, Deschine backed incumbent Maxx because he has helped with the Foster Grandparent Program, in which elders work with special needs children. The program is important to Deschine because she is a classroom volunteer with the group.

She voted for Lynda Lovejoy for president.

"I know she'll make a difference," Deschine said. "It's time we get someone in there, a woman to clean house."

It was busy at council candidate current Delegate Hope MacDonald LoneTree's tent, where Angela Maloney was volunteering.

Sporting a white T-shirt with the slogan "People with Hope" written on it, Maloney, 60, was busy prepping food to give out.

"Hope is the only person who will speak out for Tuba City in my opinion," she said.

Throughout the years, Maloney's seen MacDonald LoneTree in action at various community meetings. After witnessing her involvement and advocacy, Maloney decided to support her.

"She cares for all level of age groups," Maloney said. "She listens to the people and takes their messages to Window Rock."

When it came to voting for president, she debated between Dale E. Tsosie and Daniel Peaches, but marked her ballot for Peaches.

"We need someone from the western area (for president)," she said. "But whoever wins, I hope they'll think about us over here."

In addition to thinking about the people of the Western Agency, Maloney would like the next president to build a solid relationship between the tribe and outside government entities.

At another tent, Leonard and Alice Canyon were fixing cups of coffee after voting for Lovejoy and council candidate Joshua Lavar Butler.

"We got in and out right away," Alice said.

While most people entered the polls knowing their choice for president, Doris Ruof, 66, was undecided. She eventually voted for D. Harrison Tsosie.

Taking a look at the crowd, Ruof noticed the lack of young voters, but gave them the benefit of the doubt.

"They might be working," she said.

Throughout the morning and into the afternoon, the parking lot remained full as voters came and went. At one point parked vehicles extended along Main Street and behind the chapter house.

"There's no room," someone yelled at a truck that was trying to enter the lot during lunch.

After Elaine Sellers and Chris Yazzie exited the chapter house, they headed to Butler's tent.

This was the first time Sellers voted in a Navajo Nation election. She returned to Tuba City three years ago after living in Richmond, Calif.

The 26-year-old was also concerned about the low turnout by young voters.

"We need more young people to vote," she said. "They got to know it's important."

Yazzie, 28, was not surprised by the lack of voter participation by younger Navajos.

"I know how young people are and a lot of them don't know today is the day to vote," he said.

Sellers politely declined to say whom she voted for but Yazzie said he voted for council candidate Bobby Robbins and presidential candidate Rex Lee Jim.

Yazzie voted for Jim because he supports keeping Diné tradition in the government.

"Because the Diné government is the people's government and it should be that way," Yazzie said.

Both Sellers and Yazzie added that they would have appreciated it if all the presidential candidates visited Tuba City, so the people could be informed about their viewpoints and policies.

Another young voter was Tashina Martin, 21, who was still undecided about the president race but knew she was going to vote for Butler, the thirty-something former spokesman for the speaker's office.

"I'll probably walk around here and make up my mind then return to vote," she said.

The Shonto Chapter House was also busy, with assorted vehicles and tents filling its parking area.

Spencer Willie was working at the booth for his sister Lynette Willie, one of five council candidates for the new Navajo Mountain/Oljato/Shonto/ Ts'ah bii Kin district.

As he assisted voters, he noted, "They've asked a lot of questions, such as why she is running and where she stands on issues."

Lynette arrived after some last minute campaigning at Navajo Mountain Chapter.

One lesson she said she learned during her campaign was the importance of using the Internet.

Throughout her run for office, she received e-mails from military personnel expressing gratitude for the election information they were able to get off the Web.

"There are people out there who want to be connected to home," Lynette noted.

Pearl Manygoats, 34, was on her way into the chapter house to vote for incumbent Lena Manheimer (Navajo Mountain/Ts'ah bii Kin) when she stopped to talk. She wasn't sure whom to pick for president.

Manygoats worked with the Census 2010 campaign. Part of her job was to distribute information at chapter meetings and it was during those meetings that she saw the elected officials in action.

Witnessing how they conducted themselves and the service they provided to the communities helped Manygoats decide how to vote.

"The first impression does count," she said. "There are people who get things done and who don't get things done."

"I'm crossing my fingers and hoping whomever we elect will get things done," she said.

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