Joe Shirley Jr., a county supervisor in Apache County, Ariz., will seek the Navajo Nation presidency in the November election.
Shirley, who also is a Navajo Nation Council delegate from Chinle, said he is interested in the issues of government reform, economic development, social services, welfare reform, education, Navajo culture and religion and tribal members who live in urban areas."All of these issues are connected," Shirley said. "We need to provide more opportunities for our people to invest in themselves, preserve our way of life and to contribute to our great nation.
"We need to utilize our sovereignty to strengthen our nation, to strive forward, and not to use sovereignty to hide behind and stunt the growth or independence of the Navajo Nation."
Arizona state Sen. James Henderson Jr. has also announced his candidacy for the Navajo presidency.
The current Navajo president is Thomas E. Atcitty, who took office last month after Albert Hale resigned in an agreement to avoid prosecution on charges of ethics violations.