Eighteen members of the Navajo Nation are vying to be President of the Nation.
The candidates include current President Russell Begaye, former President Joe Shirley Jr., Vice President Jonathan Nez, former Vice President Rex Lee Jim, among others.
Most of candidates showed up last week for a forum Shirley described as a “job interview.” He declared, “There’s this job and 18 people have applied for it,” said Shirley. “Wherever we go we are being interviewed. I hope to be president once more but I know there are 17 others who want that job. For me it’s God willing and the people willing.”
The candidates met voters at booths set up for them before the forum. During the forum some candidates spoke Navajo, although most used English. This reflects a change in the rules that voters approved three years ago that allows candidates who are not fluent in Navajo to run.
