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Thursday, Dec 12th

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You are here: Opinions Letters to the Editor Letter to the Editor: Diné people need to show up for Navajo nominees in the upcoming election

Letter to the Editor: Diné people need to show up for Navajo nominees in the upcoming election

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Dear Editor,

I was absolutely thrilled and happy to read about the former Navajo Nation President, Jonathan Nez, who is running against the incumbent, Eli Crane in Arizona’s Second Congressional District according to Navajo Times editor, Bodera Joe on June 13. I was curious to see what happened to him since we did not hear about him after the June 4 primary election in New Mexico.

It is definitely great news that the primary election in Arizona is not until July 30 with general election scheduled for Nov. 5. I do not think Mr. Nez will mind being addressed as the Arizona Second Congressional District representative. No doubt, he will get used to it.

Nez has already contacted the 22 Indian tribes who reside in Arizona but 14 of the 22 Indian tribes reside in District 2, that includes: Apache; Navajo; Coconino; Gila; and Yavapai. The tribal members are beginning to register their members for primary and general election since Mr. Nez is a Navajo member running for Arizona’s Second Congressional District. He is advocating for their community needs as follows: road & bridges improvement; homes construction; ground water supply; and electricity. They are excited to register their members since one of their own Native kind members is running against Eli Crane.

Nez is also advocating for national needs and problems such as immigration reform, lowering costs, protecting Arizona water, climate changes and reproductive rights. Nez really does have a good chance of winning the Arizona Second Congressional District against the incumbent Crane during the general election on Nov. 5.

One problem that has not been mentioned is the campaign donation. According to Arizona Ballotpia on June 18, Eli has a huge financial advantage in Congressional campaign money.

I would urge all Navajo voters in Apache and Navajo counties to donate to Nez’s campaign funds. I also urge all Navajo tribal leadership to encourage Navajo voters across the Navajo land to vote for Navajo candidates who are running for different districts in New Mexico, Utah, Arizona and Colorado. This voting business has become culturally appropriate where Blacks vote for black candidates, etc.

I have been receiving too many letters from both the Elephant and Donkey Parties for donation just because I made a few selected donations. I’d like to ask Nez how to contact his campaign manager for his campaign donation. I am registered as a real conservative Republican and I have always voted for republican candidates.

Here is a list of Navajo candidates in New Mexico and their contact information:

Fran Jones (565) 863-8806

Charles Long, County Treasurer (505) 458-1051

THE ISSUE OF PROPERTY TAX

My wife and I bought our home in Gallup in December 1983, which is over 40 years ago to date. We have been paying our property taxes every year on time.

For the past 10 years, from Nov. 16, 2016 to June 4, we have paid a total of $21,270.07 or a yearly payment of $2,127.60 for our home property taxes that keeps increasing every year. We are an elderly couple with limited resources of retirement benefits.

Should McKinley County consider putting a cap on property taxes for seniors? How will this affect McKinley County resources like funding school districts’ needs? I do not know how many seniors may benefit from capping their property taxes and how it will hurt the funding of local school districts.

Some New Mexico county districts do cap their property taxes for their seniors, like Bernalillo County.

Sincerely,
Irvin Jones