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Navajo Presidential Election Tentatively Set For Dec. 23
Courtesy of Rusell Begaye Campaign
A special election will be held between third place finisher Russell Begaye and Joe Shirley Jr.
The Navajo presidential election is tentatively set for Dec. 23. The tribe could get a new Navajo president for Christmas, if the current candidate remains on the ballot.
The Navajo Supreme Court bumped Russell Begaye up when Chris Deschene was disqualified over a language requirement. Begaye placed third in the primary. But a complaint has been brought against Begaye.
Primary presidential contender Myron McLaughlin filed the complaint because of Begaye’s involvement with the Navajo Nation Oil and Gas Company. The grievance said Begaye wrongfully received stipends. It also questioned Begaye’s loyalty to the tribe because he was party to a federal lawsuit that sought to overturn a decision by the Navajo Supreme Court.
Begaye’s attorney calls the complaint a smear campaign and said none of the allegations would disqualify him.
If Begaye steps down, and the fourth-place finisher is put on the ballot, it becomes a father-against-son race. Joe Shirley Jr.’s running mate Dineh Benally is the son of the fourth-place finisher Donald Benally.
