Shelly, Lovejoy both oppose legalizing alcohol on rez
By Bill Donovan
Special to the Times
Sept. 16, 2010
Over the years, some law enforcement officials have come out in favor of allowing liquor sales on the reservation, saying it would save lives by cutting down on the number of people driving drunk. It would also provide another source of revenue to the tribe.
But it's also an issue that politicians avoid as much as possible since it's a no-win situation. The anti-liquor sentiments on the reservation are too powerful.
So how do the current candidates for president feel about the issue?
In response to our questions, both camps said they oppose legalization.
"We are not ready for legalization," said Ben Shelly and his running mate, Rex Lee Jim.
Lynda Lovejoy said she is opposed to the Navajo Nation Council legalizing alcohol.
Lovejoy and Shelly both said the decision should be left up to the Navajo people.
"Rex Lee Jim and I support having a referendum," Shelly said, adding that he would advise voters to turn it down.
Lovejoy has a similar position, saying any decision must be made by the people and not just those chapters that would be affected but by the entire population.
She points out that the issue is one that is controversial because of the effect alcohol abuse has had on Navajo families.
There's another side to this, however. Economic development officials in the past have urged Navajos to consider liquor sales by the drink in reservation restaurants as a way to encourage tourism.
As it is now, a lot of tourists only make day visits to the reservation, preferring to stay overnight in border communities because they can get beer or wine with their meals. That's why, according to this reasoning, the reservation attracts few conventions.
Where the two candidates differ is on the question of whether to support the sale of liquor by the drink at restaurants or casinos on tribal land.
Shelly said he and Jim, who says his family has been directly impacted by alcoholism, are totally opposed to package liquor sales in any shape or form.
But if the Navajo people give their approval in a referendum, Shelly and Jim said they would support the sale of beer and wine in reservation restaurants.
"The Navajo Nation must set up a framework for licensing of sales in restaurants, ensure that an enforcement department is established, and work with states to grant Navajo Nation authority over distribution, sales and taxes," Shelly said.
He pointed out that the tribe would benefit through increased gross receipts taxes.
"Tourism would grow substantially. This means more jobs for Navajos," he said.
Lovejoy's position is more strict. She opposes sales by the drink not only in restaurants but also in casinos unless approved by the Navajo people in a referendum.
In the past few years, the Navajo Nation Council has approved alcohol sales both at Antelope Point and at the Fire Rock Navajo Casino. Upper Fruitland Chapter members just recently came out in support of limited alcohol sales at the casino the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise is planning to build in that area.
Lovejoy stressed that this should not be a chapter decision only, and said the decision by the tribe to allow liquor sales at future casinos was wrong.
"These casinos will be located on tribal land," she said.
Over the years, there has been talk about holding a referendum to legalize alcohol on the reservation but the Council has never passed a resolution to put the question on a ballot.
If it was put to a vote, a number of Council officials have said that it would have no chance of passing. This, they say, is because almost every family on the reservation has suffered the death of one or more family members, either because of drinking, or because they fell victim to a DWI driver.
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