Vice President of the Navajo Nation explained

Post:Vice-President
Body:the
Navajo Nation
Insignia:Great Seal of the Navajo Nation.svg
Insigniasize:95px
Insigniacaption:Great Seal of the Navajo Nation
Incumbent:Richelle Montoya
Residence:Window Rock, AZ
Incumbentsince:January 10, 2023
Termlength:Four years, renewable once
Formation:January 15, 1991
Inaugural:Marshall Plummer
Website:Vice President
Flag:Navajo flag.svg
Flagcaption:Flag of the Navajo Nation
Flagsize:150px
Flagborder:yes
Salary:$45,000.00 USD per year
Constituting Instrument:Navajo Nation Code & Treaty of 1868

The office of Vice-president of the Navajo Nation was created in 1991 following restructuring of the Navajo Nation government. The president and vice president are elected every four years. The Navajo Nation Vice-president shall serve no more than two terms.[1]

In 2010, Ben Shelly became the first vice president to be elected president of the Navajo Nation.[2]

In 2022, Richelle Montoya was the first woman to be elected into the Executive Branch of the Navajo Nation.[3]

Officeholders

List of vice presidents of Navajo Nation
ImageNameTermPartyElectionPresident
1Marshall Plummer

[4]
January 15, 1991

January 10, 1995
Unknown1990 Peterson Zah
2Thomas Atcitty

[5]
January 10, 1995

February 19, 1998
 Democratic1994 Albert Hale
3Milton Bluehouse Sr.

[6]
February 19, 1998

July 24, 1998
Unknown Thomas Atcitty
 Milton Bluehouse Sr.
4Frank Chee Willeto

[7]
August 1998

January 12, 1999
Unknown
5Taylor McKenzie

[8]
January 12, 1999

January 14, 2003
Unknown1998 Kelsey Begaye
6Frank Dayish
January 14, 2003

January 9, 2007
Unknown2002 Joe Shirley Jr.
7Ben Shelly
January 9, 2007

January 11, 2011
 Democratic2006
8Rex Lee Jim
January 11, 2011

May 12, 2015
Unknown2010 Ben Shelly
9Jonathan Nez
May 12, 2015

January 15, 2019
 Democratic2015 Russell Begaye
10Myron Lizer
January 15, 2019

January 10, 2023
 Republican2018 Jonathan Nez
11Richelle Montoya
January 10, 2023

present
Unknown2022 Buu Nygren

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Qualifications for President & Vice-President. Navajo Nation Election Administration.
  2. News: Carolyn. Calvin. Many firsts in primary, general elections . . 2010-12-31 . 2012-07-12.
  3. Web site: Navajo Nation elects Buu Nygren President . New Mexico News Port. 9 November 2022 .
  4. Web site: Democracy Era Begins For Largest U.S. Tribe . . 1991-01-17 . 2012-07-07.
  5. Web site: Deenise . Becenti . With Law on Heels, Navajo Boss Quits; Hale Steps Down As Navajo Boss . . 1998-02-20 . 2012-07-09.
  6. Web site: Navajo name new president - again . . . 1998-07-26 . 2012-07-09.
  7. Web site: Charles D. . Brunt . Former Navajo Code Talker Willeto Dies . . 2012-06-25 . 2012-07-11.
  8. Web site: Michelle. Rushlo. Navajo inauguration is all-day event . . Eugene Register-Guard (page 3A) . 1999-12-12 . 2012-07-09.