Nominees for Peshlakai’s vacancy announced

FLAGSTAFF

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors is holding a special session today at 9 a.m. to discuss and take possible action on the Legislative District 7 State Senate vacancy.

Democratic Sen. Jamescita Peshlakai resigned from the position on Dec. 22, 2021, to take a position with the U.S. Department of Interior.

As required by law, the board will select a person from a list of three nominees submitted by the Coconino County Democratic Party.

The nominees are: Theresa Hatathlie, Gwen Ward and Pearl Yellowman.

Hatathlie is currently the logistics coordinator for Yee Ha’ólníi Doo Navajo and Hopi Families Covid-19 Relief Fund. She previously served at the Tuba City Unified School District as human resources director.

Hatathlie holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northern Arizona University.

Ward was born, raised and currently resides in Tuba City. She served on the Community Land Use Planning Committee of Coalmine Chapter. She has also worked on the Former Bennett Freeze Field Intake Project.

Ward holds a bachelor’s degree in family and human development from Arizona State University and is working on a master’s in education in special education.

Yellowman was appointed by Navajo Nation president in 2019 as executive director for the Division of Community Development.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work, a master’s in educational leadership, a second master’s in counseling education and a doctorate of education from the University of Montana.
The successful appointed nominee will serve the remainder of the 2020-2022 term.

Arizona Legislative District 7 spans Apache, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Mohave, Navajo, and Pinal counties.

Nine tribes comprise the district including Hualapai, Havasupai, Kaibab Paiute, San Juan Southern Paiute, Navajo, Hopi, White Mountain Apache, San Carlos Apache, and a small portion of Zuni Pueblo.

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