Here at Navajo Council’s Naabik’iyati Committee where Committee deep in debate over confirmation of individual who works for Resolute Companey, an oil and gas company in Utah, to the Navajo Oil and Gas Company’s Board of Directors. The individual is Eddie Sandoval.

DELEGATE LEONARD TSOSIE
And I know that Navajo Oil and Gas has hired former Navajo Nation President/Chairman Peterson Zah as its lobbyist. And I feel that he needs to keep his distance on this issue. And if needed, I will make motion to table this confirmation.

DELEGATE DUANE TSINIGINE
I’m a little disturbed on how this got to Naabi especially since came from Navajo Department of Justice. And even if table, could the Naabi Committee be questioned. I’d like to ask for advice from our chief legislative counsel.

DELEGATE KENNETH MARYBOY
We’re talking about a privately owned corporation and an individual that works for that privately owned corporation.

DELEGATE MEL BEGAY
Look at second paragraph of legislation which says this is the Navajo Oil and Gas shareholders business. If allow Navajo Oil and Gas to move forward, it would be okay because we as Council and Naabik’iyati seem to get into all these businesses. And what is conflict of interest? Everything is conflict of interest these days. I think Mr. Sandoval’s resume speaks for itself.
We need to allow him to be part of Navajo Oil and Gas. As shareholders, we need to support this so Navajo Oil and Gas can move forward.
If want to talk conflict of interest then maybe I should ask Mr. Tsosie’s about his conflict of interest.

DELEGATE DANNY SIMPSON
I’d like to ask what happens if we approve confirmation of Eddie Sandoval when there is this January 2014 memo from Navajo Department of Justice questioning Navajo Oil and Gas.

ACTING CHIEF LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL MARIANA KAHN
i need to confer with NDOJ about whether this confirmation would conflict with NDOJ confidential memo regarding Navajo Oil and Gas before giving an answer to Delegates Simpson and Tsinigine.
NDOJ
Five terminated and three confirmed. Don’t know if sixth board member exists.

DELEGATE DUANE TSINIGINE
i asked for this info long time ago but Speaker only replied to Delegate Simpson and I don’t know if favortism. But I feel disrespected.

DELEGATE DANNY SIMPSON
Wondering why Chief Legislative Counsel didn’t advice you about what is happening with Navajo Oil and Gas board membership. I want us to follow the right protocol so I am asking that legislative counsel and NDOj get together on this legislation and give us answer. And until get answer then I table this confirmation. SECOND by Delegate Tsinigine.

VOTE ON TABLING MOTION
6 in favor, 10 opposed