Navajo President Meets with New Mexico Governor on Redistricting

Native News Network Staff in Native Currents. Discussion »

Navajo President Ben Shelly

SANTA FE - In protecting the interest of the growing Navajo voting population in New Mexico's state districts, Navajo President Ben Shelly met with New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, and spoke before the House Voters and Election Committee.

“We are growing in population and representation is important as we redraw our state districts,”

President Shelly said to the Governor Martinez.

"We spoke to state law makers, to the special House committee, and the mayor of Gallup," Shelly said in the governor's office as he affirmed proposed House Bill 29 (Redistricting House Partial Plan). Accompanying the president in his meeting with Governor Martinez was State Representative Sandra Jeff, D-Dist 5.

“The Naa'bik'iyati Committee met September 2 and passed Resolution NABIS-53-11, to support the consensus plan, a proposal reached by Acoma, Laguna, Zuni, and our nation,”

Shelly said.

The New Mexico state legislature continued their special session this week to discuss plans for redistricting, a political process in redrawing state district lines following the 2010 decennial count. The state legislature is expected to vote on one proposal by Friday.

The president also met with House Speaker Ben Lujan, who attended a caucus meeting held by Democratic state representatives. The districts involved in the discussion include 4, 5, 6, 9, 65, and 69. These districts are six of nine and show a more than 60 percent Native American population. Population changes show that McKinley County increased by 4.4 percent, while San Juan County increased by 14.3 percent.

The Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission staff worked with the caucus in developing the consensus plan, which takes into consideration Navajo voting populations, sacred sites, and self-determination.

A position taken by the Naa'bik'iyati Committee is to support State Representative Districts 5, 6, and 9, and have each be included to the City of Gallup to protect Navajo voting rights. While in Santa Fe, the President met with Gallup City Mayor Jackie McKinney, who supported the consensus plan of which the Navajo Nation approves.

"This is the plan we're supporting," the president said to Mayor McKinney. As the two met in the Speaker's office looking over the proposed redistricting plans outlined on maps, both agreed to New Mexico House HD-187314.1 (House Democratic Caucus Alternative 3), the consensus plan that supplements HB 29 and Resolution NABIS-53-11.

The President ended his day at a meeting with the Shiprock fair board at Gadii'ahi Tó Koi Chapter, which went late into the evening. The Shiprock fair will be October 3-9. It is the 100th annual. The Shiprock fair board voted to enter into an agreement with the Navajo Nation to lend management and financial expertise. Manuelito Wheeler, who directed this year's Navajo Nation fair in Window Rock, has been designated as interim director for Shiprock fair.

posted September 19, 2011 12:50 pm edt