Council votes no on 2-year term extension

The Navajo Nation Council decided Tuesday not to extend the term for current elected officials by two years.

Ernest D. Yazzie Jr. (Bááháálí/Church Rock) sponsored the term extension, saying it would save the tribe money by consolidating elections into a single four-year cycle, but his proposal failed 7-65.

The bill would have delayed tribal elections until the next U.S. presidential election is held in 2012. If approved, it would have extended the terms for those currently in office, including the president and council members.

In Yazzie's presentation to the council, he said the change would eliminate the animosity that he said has developed between the three branches of government.

"Within these two additional years, we would be able to address the restructuring of the tribal government," he said, speaking in Navajo.

Postponing this year's election would allow military personnel and other individuals who file absentee ballots to do that within a suitable timeframe, he said. The period for absentee voting in the upcoming primary was shortened to three weeks because of court challenges to various aspects of the election.

Yazzie's bill got "do pass" recommendations from the Intergovernmental Relations and the Ethics and Rules committees, but the Navajo Board of Election Supervisors declined to endorse it.

Before the council began its debate, Pete Ken Atcitty (Shiprock) asked if the bill could be considered a conflict of interest because any action taken by the council could be viewed as a personal gain for current delegates.

"Some of us are currently candidates. It would be an advantage in a sense that you would extend a term," he said. Atcitty is running for reelection in Shiprock Chapter.

Chief Legislative Counsel Frank Seanez, however, saw no conflict of interest, likening the vote on Yazzie's bill to voting on the tribal budget.

The council is authorized to approve the budget, regardless that it is funded via the budget, "because it is not just affecting their own interest but it is affecting the interest of officials and others beyond themselves," Seanez said. "It would not be a conflict of interest for the council to consider this matter."

As the council began debating the legislation, the microphones on the chamber floor stopped working.

Some delegates questioned whether or not the discussion was being recorded. After checking, Speaker Pro Tem Francis Redhouse (Teec Nos Pos) confirmed that the legislative staff was recording the session.

Speaker Lawrence T. Morgan (Iyanbito/Pinedale) was absent from the session because of a family emergency.

Katherine Benally (Dennehotso) spoke strongly against the term extension, saying to Yazzie, "This is the fourth time that you are presenting this particular legislation. What part of no, N-O, do you not understand?"

She encouraged the council to remain firm on rejecting term extensions.

"The election is already in progress. People are walking in over at the election office, as we speak, to cast their vote we must not interfere with that," the Dennehotso delegate said.

Alice Benally (Crownpoint/Nahodishgish) also spoke against the bill.

"From my point of view, I say leave it alone," Benally said, speaking in Navajo.

Benjamin Curley (Ganado/Kinlichee) also attempted to speak from the council floor, but many of the delegates and the individuals sitting in the gallery could not hear him.

"I oppose this legislation," Curley said before making a motion to end debate and vote on the measure.

Jonathan Nez (Shonto) was next on the list to speak after Curley, but did not have the opportunity because of the motion on the floor to end debate.

"The people voted on Dec. 15 to reduce the council and the 24 election should continue to take place," Nez said in a statement that he e-mailed to the Navajo Times. "The people spoke, let's move forward and respect the will of the people."

Nez also asked incumbents running for a seat on the new council to vote against the term extension to show the Navajo people that they are ready to move on for the betterment of the tribe.

An attempt by Ida Nelson (Red Rock) to recall the bill Wednesday for further consideration failed to gain sufficient votes.

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