Nuvamsa new Hopi chairman
Few turnout for special election

By Stan Bindell
For The Independent

KYKOTSMOVI, Ariz. — Ben Nuvamsa edged Harry Nutumya 596-518 votes to win the Hopi chairman's job in a special election.

Nuvamsa won 53.5 percent while Nutumya garnered 46.5 percent in a race marked by low voter turnout.

This special election came about when the Hopi Tribal Council ousted Ivan Sidney from the chairman's post.

About 50 spectators came to tribal hall to watch the results get counted, and they were on the edge of their chairs as Nuvamsa led 435-433 with the votes from the villages in, but the absentee ballots remaining to be counted.

Nuvamsa won the absentee vote 161 to 85 to give him the victory.

Nuvamsa won his home village of Shungopavi 104-24. He also came out ahead in Bacavi, Sipaulovi and Keams Canyon.

Nutumya won his home village of Kykotsmovi 79-60. He also had the most amount of votes in Moenkopi, Hotevilla, Polacca and Ponsi Hall.

Nuvamsa, who owns a consulting company called the Kiva Institute, said voters showed in the primary election that they wanted change because they voted for two outsiders.

He said the difference in the general election is that the people respected his experience with tribal, state and federal governments.

"I ran a clean campaign and I didn't do any name calling," he said. "I ran a clean professional campaign, giving people the utmost respect even those who were making statements against me."

Nuvamsa faced residency challenges in the primary and general election. The Hopi Constitution calls for the candidates to have two years' residency before they can seek the chairman's job.

Nuvamsa's opponents said he hasn't lived on Hopi that long. Nuvamsa provided a post office box, a utility bill and tax papers showing he has lived on Hopi that long. The Hopi Election Board upheld that he met the requirements in the primary and the Hopi Tribal Council voted to proceed with the election without taking him out of it.

Nuvamsa said the low voter turnout was due to the council hearing, and this is a busy month for Hopi ceremonies.

Nuvamsa said his top priority will be revising the Hopi Constitution to make sure that the tribe has open government.

"We need to come together and lay our differences aside so we can work together," he said.

Nuvamsa said he will have an administration that will be open to the Hopi people.

"People have been kept away for so long," he said. "We also can't forget those (Hopis) in the urban areas. People need to feel that they are part of the government."

Nuvamsa said he thanks all the voters, but especially his campaign committee, which worked hard for him.

Nutumya: System was manipulated

Nutumya, who manages an arts and crafts market in Kykotsmovi, said the tribal council manipulated the system and broke the law of the land by allowing Nuvamsa to remain in the race despite his failure to meet the two year residency requirement.

"They have broken their oath again. They did not follow the requirements, and the council neglected their duty," he said.

Nutumya said Hopi people want to move forward, but "there is so much evil that they allow deception to take place."

Nutumya said the Hopi Tribe, compared to other tribes, has not moved forward because of Hopi traditions holding them back.

"I said that if people support corruption that they will support him," he said.

But Nutumya said he had no plans to challenge the outcome.

"God has a way of revealing things," he said. "I've got my life to live and I'm not hurt by this. People knew right along that he lacked the residency, but they voted for him and they hurt themselves. The tribe always does that. That's why there's no progress. They cut their own throat and that's the sad part."

Nutumya said the low voter turnout was due to apathy and a loss of faith in the Hopi government.

"The tribe has done nothing that has been in the interest of the people, so they would rather not deal with the tribe knowing they won't get acknowledged. Of all the requests that go to the tribe, there are few that ever get what they want; so I understand how they feel," he said.

Nutumya said he hopes that Nuvamsa's actions will be in the best interests of the Hopi people.

"We'll soon find out which path he'll take," he said.

"I feel bad for the people because they had their hopes up. But people are so cold. They don't think about the consequences of their votes, but sooner or later they'll know what he's going to do."

Nutumya said there may be another time for him down the road.