Navajo Nation Council fails to override presidential veto on language requirement

The Navajo Nation Council could not garner enough votes Thursday to override President Ben Shelley’s veto of a motion to amend the language requirement for government seats, including president, to give voters the say of which candidates are fluent in the Navajo language.

The council would have needed 16 ‘yea’ votes to override the veto, but got only 13 in favor. Five council members voted against the override, and four did not vote.

The Navajo Nation Council’s Naa’bik’iyati’ Committee passed a resolution Wednesday 12-5 to override the veto, which sent the motion to today’s council special session.

Voting against the override were Joshua Lavar Butler, Kenneth Maryboy, Leonard H. Pete, Alton Joe Shepherd and Dwight Witherspoon.

Lorenzo Bates, Elmer P. Begay, Russell Begaye and Jonathan Nez did not vote.

Roland Tso, who was sworn in as a new member of the council Thursday morning prior to the vote, voted in favor of the override, as did George Apachito, Mel R. Begay, Nelso S. BeGaye, Lorenzo Curley, Charles Damon, Jonathan Hale, Walter Phelps, Danny Simpson, Roscoe D. Smith, Duane Tsinigine, Leonard Tsosie and Edmund Yazzie.

This was effectively former presidential candidate Chris Deschene’s last chance to get on the presidential ballot.

Testimony said more than 8,000 signatures in support of the override had been collected and brought to the council chambers, and that only 200 signatures had been collected opposing the override.

There was also testimony from Former Miss Navajo Karletta Chief that Deschene had spoken more Navajo at debates prior to this year’s primary than several other candidates.

The delayed presidential election is to be held on December 23. Voters will have to choose between Joe Shirley, Jr. and his vice presidential candidate Dineh Benally, and Russell Begaye and his VP candidate, Jonathan Nez.