Navajo Nation presidential election, 2006

2006 Navajo Nation Election

6 November 2006

Nominee Joe Shirley Jr. Lynda Lovejoy Running mate Ben Shelly Walter Phelps Popular vote 34,813 30,213 Percentage 54% 46%

Presidential election results map. Red denotes Agencies won by Lovejoy/Phelps, Blue denotes those won by Shirley/Shelly.

Background Navajo Nation Alamo · Ramah · Tohajiilee Navajo Nation Council Council Chamber · Chapters
Presidential Elections 1990 · 1994 · 1998 · 2002 · 2006 · 2010 · 2014
Presidents and Vice Presidents Peterson Zah 1991–1995 Marshall Plummer Albert Hale 1995–1998 Thomas Atcitty Thomas Atcitty 1998–1998 Milton Bluehouse, Sr. Milton Bluehouse, Sr. 1998–1999 Frank Chee Willeto Kelsey A. Begaye 1999–2003 Taylor McKenzie Joe Shirley, Jr.2003–2011 Ben Shelly · Frank Dayish Jr. Ben Shelly 2011–2015 Rex Lee Jim Russell Begaye 2015- Jonathan Nez

The Navajo Nation Presidential elections took place on November 7, 2006. The election process begins with a primary election, which took place on August 8, 2006. In all there was a total of 11 Navajo individuals vying for the office of Navajo Nation President. There was a woman, a medicine man, a pastor, and even a former Arizona State Senator that wanted to take on the current Administration, the Shirley/Dayish Administration.

Announce for Presidency

Frank Dayish Jr.

On May 6, 2006, then Vice-President of the Navajo Nation Frank Dayish Jr. announce his bid for President. Dayish, announce his bid at the Shiprock Chapter as 450 concern Diné, watch. "It is with humility and honor that I accept this challenge." said Dayish as the more than 400 people cheered him on.

Lynda Lovejoy

Lynda Lovejoy, a former New Mexico House of Representative member declared her candidency on April 1, 2006 at the Crownpoint Chapter House in Crownpoint, NM. An article in the Gallup Independent printed March 17, 2006 shows that she was confident in her bid for the Office of President of the Navajo Nation.

Candidates

• Calvin Tsosie Yatahey, New Mexico
• Frank Dayish Shiprock, New Mexico
• Lynda Lovejoy Crownpoint, New Mexico
• Ernest H Begay Rock Point, Arizona
• James Henderson Ganado, Arizona
• Wilbur Nelson
• Harrison Todichiini Shiprock, New Mexico
• Vern Lee Kirtland, New Mexico
• Joe Shirley Jr. Chinle, Arizona

Primary Election

In a remarkable move the Navajo people selected incumbent candidate Joe Shirley Jr. (Chinle) and New Mexico Public Regulation Commissioner Linda Lovejoy (Crownpoint) to face off in November 2007. This is the first time in Navajo government history that a woman made it pass the Primary election to be the leader of the largest Native American tribe in the United States. Immediately after the election, Mrs. Lovejoy selected Walter Phelps from Leupp, AZ as her running mate to challenge Joe Shirley Jr., and Council Delegate Ben Shelly (Thoreau). Local radio stations were filled with ads and campaign rallies after the primaries throughout the Navajo Nation, in the end Joe Shirley Jr., won by 4,000 votes to seek another term as President of the Navajo Nation. This is also the first time since Chairman Peter Macdonald Sr. to win another term in office.

Public Endorsement

Joe Shirley Jr. was endorsed by former Chairmans and Presidents such as: Fmr. President and Fmr. Chairman Peterson Zah, Fmr. Chairman Peter Macdonald Sr., Fmr. President Milton Bluehouse Sr., Fmr. Chairman Leonard Haskie, and many other Navajo politicians.

Small Vs. Big

Every major Chapters except Chinle voted in large margins for Lynda Lovejoy, and smaller more rural Chapters voted for Joe Shirley Jr.

See also

• Navajo Nation

References

• Johnson, Natasha Kaye. (2006). Lovejoy enters race (Archived 2009-05-16). The Gallup Independent
• Hassler, Brian. (2007). Dayish campaign begins with rally in Shiprock (Archived 2009-05-16). The Gallup Independent