NAVAJO COUNCIL DEBATING LEGISLATION 0025-140025-14, AMENDING TITLE 2 OF NAVAJO CODE, SECTIONS 105 AND 1002.

DELEGATE ELMER BEGAY
what we are addressing the selection of leaders by the people. when i was thinking about running for council, i talked with medicine people.

DELEGATE LORENZO CURLEY
in very dynamic well informed democracy, i believe term limits are antiquated ways of promoting public interest. the people themselves will decide and the media plays important role in disseminating information about public officials. and based on that the voters will make informed decisions on who to support. such as Mitch McConnel, Sen. McCain who keep going in and that’s based on what public like. i’m thinking that makes sense if citizens informed. but i don’t think our media inform people at committee level. so what is the appropriate way for people to keep check on elected officials. i recently overheard two people talk about how they vote and they said they choose who is best looking. i thot is that what they do? these people don’t take navajo government seriously. so maybe term limits cuz people don’t know who they are voting for. so i support term limits but not amendment.

DELEGATE NELSON BEGAY
during the Naabik’iyati Committee meeting i asked Sponsor Delegate Russell Begaye about filing dates for elected offiicals, such as president and council. Will this impact that?you

TRIBAL ATTORNEY RON HAVENS
section 2, page 2 indicates the effective date is immediate. Navajo Election Administration has opened candidacy filing dates and they are distributing information that states that requirements are as is. I am not advising you that this is illegal. Navajo Supreme Court issued decision regarding school board members and school board members were being disqualified. What you are doing here is changing the rules. And it’s also about fairness. There is law where candidates who are determined qualified will then become disqualified.

DELEGATE MEL BEGAY