Joe Shirley, Jr.

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Joe Shirley Jr.
6th President of the Navajo Nation
In office January 20, 2003 – January 19, 2011
Preceded by	Kelsey A. Begaye
Born	1947 Chinle, Arizona
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Vicki Shirley
Residence	Window Rock, Arizona
Occupation	Executive Director of the Navajo Division of Social Services
Religion	Native American Church

Dr. Joe Shirley, Jr. (born December 1947) is a Native American politician who is the current President of the Navajo Nation. He is of the Navajo Tribe and is from Chinle, Arizona. He was elected in November 2002.

[edit] Navajo Nation President

In 2000, Joe Shirley ran for the Presidency of the Navajo Nation and defeated incumbent President Kelsey Begaye. He was inaugurated as the President of the Navajo Nation in January 2003.

In November of 2006, President Shirley selected the Council Delegate from Thoreau, New Mexico, Ben Shelly as his Vice Presidential runningmate during his second bid for the Navajo Executive Office. Former New Mexico State Representative, Lynda Lovejoy was his opponent during the 2006 Navajo Nation Election. By a small majority of the popular vote, Joe Shirley and Ben Shelly were inaugurated in January 2007.

On January 31, 2008, he announced his endorsement of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in the latter's race for the White House^[1]. He stated that he believed Clinton would best protect tribal sovereignty and the Navajo way of life.

[edit] Sources

• "Honorable Joe Shirley, Jr. - Navajo Nation President", URL accessed 10/21/06.
• "Joe Shirley elected Navajo Nation President".
• "Navajo President Vetoes Gaming Enterprises, URL access 02/14/07.

Preceded by Kelsey A. Begaye

President of the Navajo Nation November 2002 – present

Incumbent

[edit] References

1. ^ RGJ. Navajo president endorses Clinton January 31, 2008