Navajo Nation holds special election for reinstated candidates
Special to the Times | Donovan Quintero
Navajo Nation Council Delegate candidate Olin C. Begay, standing second right, laughs with supporters as they stay warm by a fire on Tuesday during a special election in Klagetoh, Ariz. Begay ran against career politicians Arbin Mitchell and Raymond Smith Jr. He received a total of 273 votes, according to unofficial results released by the Navajo Nation Election Administration. Mitchell won the race with an unofficial count of 653 votes.
WINDOW ROCK
Navajo voters from 37 chapters went to the polls on Tuesday in a special election to decide the fate of candidates who had been previously disqualified under a new election law.
According to unofficial results released by the Navajo Nation Election Administration, 8,749 voters participated in filling key leadership positions that were left vacant because of disqualifications earlier this year.
Special to the Times | Donovan Quintero
Navajo Nation Election Administration officials begin to dismantle a voting machine that was used on Tuesday, Dec. 10, during a special election at the Tsé Si’ání Chapter in Lupton, Ariz.
The Navajo Board of Election Supervisors, NBOES, directed the Navajo Election Administration to conduct a continuation of the Navajo Nation’s 2024 General Election on Dec. 10, 2024. This decision follows the disqualification of candidates who failed to comply with campaign expense reporting requirements. The board aims to ensure all affected positions are resolved fairly and lawfully.
According to Resolution BOESN-55-24, the continuation election will address vacancies caused by the removal of candidates from the Nov. 5 general election ballots. The disqualifications stem from violations of campaign finance laws, specifically the failure to submit mandatory campaign expense statements within 10 days of the primary election held on July 30. Affected candidates were deemed ineligible under Title 11 of the Navajo Nation Code.
Grievances, appeals
Grievances and appeals have played a significant role in the timing of this decision. The Navajo Board of Election Supervisors previously passed Resolution BOESS-43-24 on Sept. 24, directing the removal of disputed positions from the ballot to avoid complications with unresolved cases before the Navajo Nation Office of Hearings and Appeals. As of Nov. 7, several rulings have been issued, paving the way for the continuation election.
Special to the Times | Donovan Quintero
A voting machine that was used for a special election sits in the Nahat’á Dziil Chapter on Tuesday night, Dec. 10, in Nahat’á Dziil, Ariz.
The continuation election was limited to candidates originally participating in the 2024 Chapter Primary Election. No new candidates were allowed to file applications. For positions where disqualified candidates had the highest votes in the primary, the candidate with the next highest number of votes was placed on the ballot, provided they met all election code requirements.
Additionally, voter registration for the affected chapters remained closed. The board emphasized that no special election was being authorized, and the continuation was strictly for resolving positions impacted by the disqualifications.
Campaign finance compliance has been a central issue in this year’s election cycle. In February, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren signed into law Council Resolution CJA-08-24, which mandates strict reporting requirements for campaign expenses. Violators face a five-year ineligibility period to run for office. The Navajo Election Administration reported that 192 candidates were disqualified under this provision, with 99 filing grievances with the OHA.
In certifying the resolution, NBOES Chairman Melvin Harrison highlighted the board’s commitment to ensuring the integrity of the electoral process. The Dec. 10 continuation election addressed only those positions where all grievance and appeal periods expired.
After unofficial results were released on Tuesday night, Navajo Election Administration Interim Executive Director Veronica Curley provided an update on the ongoing election process.
“We’ve had 21 new grievances filed by disqualified chapter-level candidates with the Office of Hearings and Appeals,” Curley said. “Pending the outcome of those cases, we are tentatively looking at holding another special election at the end of March 2025.”
Curley noted that some of the grievances were for agency-wide positions, not just chapter-level seats.
“We’re still waiting on responses from the Navajo Nation Supreme Court on at least three cases that were filed early on,” Curley added. “The outcome of these pending cases will determine if any individuals are reinstated and placed back on the ballot for the next election.”
Inaugurations planned
The Navajo Nation is also preparing for the inauguration of newly elected officials, which is scheduled to take place the week of Jan. 6 at various locations across the Navajo Nation.
Special to the Times | Donovan Quintero
Navajo voters Alice Ashley, left, and Alta Graymountain, both from Wide Ruins, Ariz., show their “I voted” stickers on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the Klagetoh Chapter House in Klagetoh, Ariz.
On Jan. 6, the Eastern Navajo Agency will have its inauguration at Navajo Technical University in Crownpoint. On Jan. 8, with the Chinle Agency, it’ll be at Rough Rock Community School. Western Navajo Agency’s inauguration will be at Monument Valley High School in Kayenta. Northern Navajo Agency will be at the Navajo Preparatory School in Farmington. Fort Defiance is still up in the air, but theirs will be held on Jan. 7, said Curley.
With the potential for another special election in March, Curley said the Navajo Election Administration is working to finalize the details and costs associated with Tuesday’s election.
She added the Navajo Nation Election Administration would issue further notices and ensure Navajo communities remain informed about developments related to the continuation election.
Below is a summary of unofficial election results for the Dec. 10 chapter elections.
Eastern Navajo Agency
Counselor Chapter
Vice president: Laura C. Lopez – 20 votes.
Huerfano Chapter
Land board: Daniel Armstrong – 171 votes; Veronica D. Pablo-Tso – 154 votes; Saraphine Woody – 76 votes.
Nageezi Chapter
School Board (Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle Community /Hanna’dii Dormitory): Priscilla Willetto – 21 votes; Ervin Chavez – 13 votes.
Ojo Encino Chapter
President: George Werito Jr. – 134 votes; Taylor Pinto – 106 votes.
Pinedale Chapter
Vice president: Sylvia Largo – 46 votes.
Secretary-treasurer: Clara J. Daye – 31 votes.
Mariano Lake Community School Board: Clara J. Daye – 33 votes.
Ramah Chapter
Vice president: Monica L. Yazzie – 143 votes; Chancey K. Martinez – 123 votes.
Ramah Navajo School Board (Pine Hill Schools): Victoria Henio – 225 votes; Gjermundson C. Jake – 213 votes; Carolyn Coho – 203 votes; Sarah Adeky – 189 votes.
Smith Lake Chapter
President: Marie Talk – 35 votes.
Vice president: Heather E. Yazzie-Kinlacheeny – 27 votes.
Thoreau Chapter
Vice president: Lisa L. Hudson – 24 votes.
Secretary-treasurer: Judy K. Platero – 29 votes.
Tóhajiileehé Chapter
Vice president: Nora J. Morris – 87 votes.
Whitehorse Lake Chapter
President: Lucita L. Nolan – 94 votes; Artlee Chavez – 64 votes.
Fort Defiance Agency
Bahastł’ah’ Chapter
Secretary-treasurer: Rita Silago – 27 votes.
Coyote Canyon Chapter
Grazing committee member: Isaiah Tom Tsosie – 31 votes.
Crystal Chapter
President: LaVerne A. Johnson – 168 votes.
Grazing committee member: Louise Q. Mark – 107 votes.
Farm board: Darrell Stewart – 175 votes.
Ganado Chapter
Farm board: Kim Johnson – 41 votes.
Houck Chapter
President: James Watchman, Jr. – 186 votes; Ronald Daw – 123 votes.
Indian Wells Chapter
Secretary-treasurer: Linda Nelson – 38 votes.
Klagetoh Chapter
Secretary-treasurer: Maureen Woodman – 138 votes.
Low Mountain Chapter
School board (AL-Cottonwood Day/Jeeheez’a Elementary): Detroit A. James – 11 votes.
Nahat’á Dziil Chapter
Commissioner: Lorenzo Curley – 270 votes; Jane Rose Benally – 229 votes; Melinda Bigman Joe – 258 votes.
Naschitti Chapter
Grazing committee member: Leroy J. Livingston – 154 votes; Virginia B. Winters – 79 votes.
Oak Springs Chapter
School board (AL-Hunter’s Point Boarding School): Winona M. Slim – 15 votes; Gloria A. Hale – 10 votes.
Red Lake Chapter
Vice president: Loberta Redhouse – 80 votes.
Farm board: Gary Shurley – 124 votes.
Sawmill Chapter
President: Woodie Bennett – 53 votes.
School Board (AL-Hunter’s Point Boarding School): Gloria A. Hale – 35 votes.
Steamboat Chapter
Commissioners: Jefferson Kee – 136 votes; Eunice J. Begay – 134 votes; Donald Benally – 134 votes.
Tsé Si’ání Chapter
Vice president: Jackie Yazzie, Jr. – 105 votes.
Northern Navajo Agency
Beclabito Chapter
Vice president: Albert Paul – 21 votes.
Red Mesa Chapter
President: Herman Farley – 104 votes.
Western Navajo Agency
Coalmine Canyon Chapter
President: Benjamin Nez – 63 votes; Phillip Zahne – 56 votes.
Vice president: Marcella R. Yazzie – 101 votes.
Tónaneesdizí Chapter:
Grazing committee member: Daniel Williams – 57 votes.
Tsídiito’í Chapter
President: Mitzi M. Begay – 111 votes.
Vice president: Tommy Leroy Tsosie – 100 votes.
Secretary-treasurer: Lavinia Leann Cody – 100 votes.
The unofficial results will be reviewed by the Navajo Nation Election Administration, with certification expected in the coming weeks.
The newly elected leaders are set to resume their duties to address local governance and development initiatives, marking a new chapter in the Navajo Nation’s leadership and accountability.
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