JUST IN Newly sworn-in Council Delegate Kee Allen Begay becomes Speaker Pro Tem of the 23rd Navajo Nation Council for two weeks from Jan. 13 to 26, when he won by a coin toss. Begay called tails in the coin toss, while 22nd Navajo Nation Council Speaker Pro Tem LoRenzo Bates called heads. The coin toss, administered by the Navajo Election Administration, came after a 12-12 vote. When Council delegate Mel Begay asked legislative counsel what happens in matters of a tie, Ron Haven, an attorney from the Office of Legislative Counsel, recommended the coin toss. Early in the special session, Bates had been recommend as speaker pro tem through an amendment to insert his name into the bill. But, the issue of Bates signaling to Council delegate David Filfred to make a motion to have him as speaker was an unfair process to Council delegate Dwight Witherspoon. Witherspoons concerns eventually led to Filfred withdrawing his motion to have Bates name inserted in the bill, which then resulted in the nomination process for speaker pro tem. Witherspoon advocated for the nomination process to the amendment process. As as result, Bates was then nominated by Filfred and Begay by Witherspoon. Council delegate Tom Chee was nominated by his peer Otto Tso, but he declined the nomination. That pitted Begay against Bates for speaker pro tem. Begay, a former member of the 21st Council and former legislative district assistant to ousted and former Speaker Johnny Naize, said hes not running for speaker during the winter session, when he was asked by Council Delegate Leonard Tsosie to step away from his nomination after the 12-12 vote. But, Begay said that it wasnt fair for him to step down unless Witherspoon withdrew his nomination and if the 12 council members, who voted in his favor, agreed. At the winter session, which begins on Jan. 26, the new Council will select a new speaker from among its body, a two-year appointment. The Council adjourned at 6:59 p.m. For more on the new Speaker Pro Tem, grab your copy of the Navajo Times on Thursday.
Posted on: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 02:49:31 +0000
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