Begaye’s court fight delays new election date

Posted by Bill Donovan | Dec 4, 2014 | Election 2014 |

WINDOW ROCK

Navajo Nation presidential candidate Russell Begaye, background, and former candidate Myron McLaughlin, hat and sunglasses, wait outside the Office of Hearings and Appeals conference room during a recess break on Nov. 13 in Window Rock. (Times photo – Donovan Quintero)

Election officials still have not been able to announce a new date for the election of Navajo Nation president because of the ongoing battle within the tribal court system over Russell Begaye’s right to run for the post.

Myron McLaughlin, who had filed the original complaint against Begaye that was dismissed by the Navajo Nation Office of Hearings and Appeals, said Wednesday he planned to file an appeal to that decision with the Navajo Nation Supreme Court Wednesday afternoon.

Edison Wauneka, head of the Navajo Election Administration, has said that he will not be announcing a date for the special election until the court case against Begaye has been finalized.

Begaye was named the opponent to Joe Shirley Jr., who came in first in the primary, after Chris Deschene was disqualified after a complaint was filed against him claiming he did not meet the requirements to run for president because he was not fluent in the Navajo language.