Russell Begaye
| Russell Begaye | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 8th President of the Navajo Nation | |
|
Assumed office May 12, 2015 | |
| Vice President | Jonathan M. Nez |
| Preceded by | Ben Shelly |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Shiprock, New Mexico |
| Nationality |
 Navajo Nation and  USA |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Window Rock, AZ |
| Occupation | Public service; retired small business owner |
| Religion | Christianity |
Russell Begaye is the president of Navajo Nation. He was elected to the office on April 4, 2015[1] and was sworn-in on May 12, 2015.[2] He is the second New Mexican Navajo to hold the Navajo Presidency. Begaye is a graduate of University of California, Los Angeles.
With a margin of more than 10,000 votes, Russell Begaye defeated a two-term former Navajo Nation President during a special Presidential election on the Navajo Nation.
Begaye, a businessman and one-term tribal legislator from Shiprock, New Mexico, earned 25,745 votes, according to unofficial results. His opponent, Joe Shirley Jr., earned 15,439. Shirley, of Chinle, Arizona, served back-to-back terms as the tribe’s top elected leader from 2003 to 2011.
About 30 percent of the Nation’s 120,000+ registered voters cast ballots during Tuesday’s election, which was delayed for five months and followed a lengthy legal battle over an election law that requires presidential candidates to speak fluent Navajo (Diné Bizáad).
Begaye, who came in third during the 2014 August primary, found himself suddenly back in the race in late October when the Navajo Nation Supreme Court permanently disqualified Chris Deschenee and ordered all ballots to be reprinted. Nez, his running mate, was re-elected to the Navajo Nation Council in November.
The election continued despite repeated attempts by lower courts, the Navajo Nation Council and former presidential candidates to postpone the election until after the people could weigh in by referendum on the question of fluency. That language referendum vote was scheduled for June. Addressing voters late Tuesday, Begaye talked about moving past the confusion and into a more certain future.
“I think the people are really wanting to see something take place – really a significant change that’s tangible, that people will see, that we are moving forward as a Nation, and that is what we’re going to be doing,” he said. “We need to unite, work together hard and move forward.”
Nez also talked about a brighter future.
“It is time for healing,” he said. “It is time for unity. It is time to take this Nation to the next level.”
Shirley, who currently serves on the board of supervisors for Apache County, Arizona, told the Associated Press that the election results were not what he expected.
“The people have spoken, and that’s the way it should be,” he said. “We fought for that, we wanted to have an election, and now that we have, the numbers are what they are." http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/04/22/russell-begaye-wins-navajo-election-time-unite-and-move-forward-160102
References
- ↑ Skinner, Curtis. "Russell Begaye wins Navajo Nation presidency after delayed vote". Reuters. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
- ↑ Smith, Noel Lyn. "Navajo President-elect Russell Begaye to take office Tuesday". Daily-Times. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
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