Life without Napolitano
Navajo leaders say former governor reached out to Natives

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — With Janet Napolitano set to leave the position of governor of Arizona, the Independent asked some Navajo leaders about their thoughts on her departure to join the Obama-Biden administration as the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

George Hardeen, spokesman for President Joe Shirley, said that the Navajo Nation has had an excellent professional and personal relationship with Napolitano.

“No Arizona governor before her reached out to Native people in general and Navajos in particular as much as Governor Napolitano,” Hardeen said. “The president and vice president look forward to continuing his and the Navajo Nation’s relationship with her in her new position as secretary of homeland security, and hopes to see her when he travels to Washington.”

He added that the president and vice president look forward to becoming acquainted with Napolitano’s successor Jan Brewer.

Brewer, the current secretary of state for Arizona, is to become the next governor after Napolitano is confirmed, which could come in late January.

The Navajo voters were often credited with helping Napolitano, a Democrat, win the position of governor when she ran in 2002. She easily won her bid for re-election in 2006 and has two years remaining of her second term.

Now a Republican — Brewer — will be filling her shoes.

Navajo Nation Council Delegate Katherine Benally, Dennehotso, said that while she is proud of Napolitano and knows she is the best person for the position, she has concerns that Republicans will now control the state Legislature and the governor’s office.

“While I am proud of her, I am disappointed because now the state of Arizona is definitely governed by a Republican governor, Republican senate, Republican house of representatives,” Benally said. “It puts Native Americans, not just Navajos but majority of Native Americans, at a huge disadvantage. We’re already at a disadvantage.”

She added that Napolitano was doing a good job representing and supporting Navajo, and “understanding where we’re coming from and where we’re going as a nation.”

She said she hopes that Napolitano will have positive input at the federal level on behalf of Navajo.

Council delegate and Judiciary Committee Chairman Kee Allen Begay, Many Farms/Round Rock, said that he is “anxious but optimistic” about the incoming Obama administration.

“As a registered Republican in Arizona, I wholly supported Mr. Obama because of his campaign message and how he presented messages regarding Native Americans and how he had expressed that change that is greatly needed across Native American reservation(s).”

Begay noted that serving six years as Arizona governor as well as serving for years in other positions for the state, Napolitano does not need to be educated on Native American issues.

“And she would also be a good candidate as an expert advisor to President-elect Obama regarding Native issues,” Begay said.

Begay said that while Napolitano played a key role in securing funding for the Dilkon court project, he was struck by remarks she made that she was hesitant to allocate more funding to the Navajo Nation when it doesn’t spend the funding.

“In summary, I hope the departing Arizona governor would do more in addressing Native issues at federal level and that her successor would continue to work (with) the 22 Arizona Native tribes and establish a stronger government-to-government relationship and recognize our sovereign status,” Begay said.

He added that the Navajo Nation also needs to work with the state by resolving processes internally, voicing concerns stronger and making bold moves.