Transition going smoothly – so far

By Bill Donovan
Special to the Times

LOS ANGELES

The Navajo Nation Council and president’s office is in discussions on how to handle the transition from the Begaye-Nez administration to the Nez-Lizer administration.

“Everything is going smoothly,” said Mihio Manus, director of communications for the president’s office.

He said program directors have been directed to prepare briefing papers for the transition team appointed by Vice President Jonathan Nez, who is scheduled to take over as president in two months.

The reports will give updates on projects and give an idea of where the projects are headed.

Jared Touchin, communications director for the speaker’s office, said one item under discussion is how much money the transition would need.

While there is no word that this is happening, in previous transitions the outgoing administration asks the transition team how many staff the incoming president needs. Vacancies in the departments are used to place transition staff until the inauguration.

So far, as Mihio said, things are going peacefully and there seems to be a spirit of cooperation.

But that has not always been the case.

The transition when Peterson Zah took over as chairman in 1982 from Peter MacDonald was probably the roughest in anyone’s memory although old-timers said 12 years before when MacDonald took over from Raymond Nakai wasn’t pleasant either.

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