Tso, Slim, Brown win seats in Western
Newly elected Delegate for Tónaneesdizí Local Government Otto Tso greets Ella Bennett, 99, on Nov. 4 before heading to the polls in Tuba City. (Times photo - Krista Allen)
ABOVE: Newly elected Delegate for Tónaneesdizí Local Government Otto Tso greets Ella Bennett, 99, on Nov. 4 before heading to the polls in Tuba City. (Times photo – Krista Allen)
TUBA CITY
Western Navajo’s delegation will get a least three new faces as a result of Tuesday’s election.
For Tónaneesdizí Local Government, Delegate Joshua Lavar Butler didn’t seek reelection, clearing a way for Otto Tso, who is Naakai Dine’é (Mexican Clan), and born for Tó’aheedlííníí (Water Flow Together Clan).
In an interview with the Navajo Times earlier this evening, Tso said he ran for his people.
“I ran for the people of the former Bennett Freeze area,” said Tso. “I’m in hopes for development. When the Bennett Freeze was lifted, no tribal dollars really attached for development to rehabilitate (the area). That’s one of my main points why I ran.”
Longtime policymaker Delegate Duane Tsinigine also didn’t seek reelection, laying the foundations in District One, which includes Bodaway-Gap, Ariz., for young leadership Tauchoney Slim Jr. from Tonalea-Red Lake, Ariz. who is an artist and a business owner.
Slim is Kinłichíí’nii (Red House Clan), and born for Naakai Dine’é.
Meanwhile, up-and-coming leader for Chilchinbeto, Dennehotso, and Kayenta Nathaniel “Nate” Brown stated on his Facebook page that he was feeling thankful for his win.
In the Dook’oosłííd area, voters reelected Delegate Walter Phelps from Grand Falls, Ariz. as voters in the Southern Utah area reelected incumbent Delegate Jonathan Nez from Shonto, Ariz.
Nez was the only candidate on the ballot in his area for Naatsis’áán, Oljato, Shonto, and Ts’ah Bii Kin. He was first elected in 2006.
Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow