NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL CONTINUES TO DEBATE CHANGES TO QUALIFICATIONS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS WHICH APPEARS TO BE WATERING DOWN QUALIFICATIONS LAW. DELEGATES RUSSELL BEGAYE AND WALTER PHELPS ARE QUESTIONING WHY LAW NEEDS TO BE AMENDED AND THAT LAW JUST NEEDS TO BE ENFORCED.
Any convictions for felonies and misdemeanors pursuant to §8 (A), (B), (C), and (D) 24 within the last five (5) years and the place, date, lav,’ violated and cireumstances surrounding :5 those convictions affecting qualifications for office;
NAVAJO ELECTION OFFICE DIRECTOR EDISON WAUNEKA
At the time candidates filing for positions, they wud do affidavit/answering qualifications questions and that five year wud be part of that and maintaining qualifications means that qualifications maintained during term. For example, school board members, the five years is still there from time filed and they have to maintain that. If there is any violation of qualification, then Election Board begins removal process and school board member may appeal.
DELEGATE
It seems like prior laws stronger such as removal of president, vice president: conviction of felony removal. Overstriken also clealy defines violations and why we allow elected officials to be candidates and then get elected.
§ 240. Removal and placement on administrative leave
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A. The President, Vice-President and delegate to the Navajo Nation Council are subject to removal
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by the Navajo Nation Council for just cause.
I. Just cause shall include, but sfta.l.l not be necessarily limited to:
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a. Insanity, when judicially or medically determined.
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b. Conviction by any court of any felony.
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e Q. Council members failing to attend Council meeting as required by law.
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a ~. President or Vice-President absent for three consecutive months without
pelmission of the Navajo Nation Council.
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0 g. Habitual indulgence in alcoholic beverages.
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f. Conviction of any misaemeanor involving aeceit, untruthfulness, ana aishonesty,
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including but not limitea to e1(tortion, embezzlement, bribery, perjury, forgery, fraua,
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misrepresentation, false pretense, theft, conversion, or misuse of Navajo Nation runas ana
property, and crimes involving the \velfare of children, child abuse, child neglect,
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aggravated assault and aggravated battery.
Who enforces? Who oversees? Who monitors what is happening in court with conviction?
It seems to me that the current law is adequate.
