Just your 'average Joe' runs for president
Zsombor Peter
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Joe Schriner is your "average Joe," he
likes to say. But he's doing a not-so-average thing: he's running
for president of the United States of America.
He may not have won as an independent candidate in 2000. But with
his wife, Liz, two children, Joseph, 2, and Sarah, 4, and a full
tank of gas in their all-purpose conversion van, he visited Gallup
last Friday during the opening stretch of his second effort: fear
and loathing on the American road, on the campaign trail '04 .
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"Average Joe" Schriner is a journalist, not a lawyer;
he has never held a public office. And that's the point. He's
not your average politician; he's your average American. He just
happens to be running for president. But he's doing it in a not-so-average
way.
After working as a reporter in his native Ohio for several years,
Schriner decided to hit the road, and he hit it hard. Between
1990 and 1998 he traveled some 100,000 miles on what he calls
a "back roads of America research journey," interviewing
average Americans everywhere he went working to improve their
communities.
"It became clear I was looking at the pieces of a national
puzzle," he writes on his web site, "which, if assembled
in each town, with local flavor added, would dramatically strengthen
America."
Having listened to so many voices, heard their stories, and taken
careful notes, Schriner decided in 2000 to take that message on
another 20,000 mile, 19 month, tour, this time headed straight
for the Oval Office. That message, according to Schriner, called
for a "citizen's administration," where everyday citizens
with solutions to national issues at local levels would replace
the Washington elite along with their tried and not-so-tested
ways.
200 newspaper articles, 85 regional TV news broadcasts and countless
radio shows later, Schriner didn't quite make it to 1600 Pennsylvania
Ave. Undeterred, he wasted little time in getting back on the
road. While the current Bush administration struggles to disavow
itself from the ENRON scandal, and while the democrats hope and
pray for the republicans to self-destruct by the time the primaries
come around, Schriner is already busy campaigning for 2004.
As ever in search of his "extra-mile Americans," he
drove into Gallup last Friday to have a look around.
He found what he was searching for in Richard and Gloria Podilla,
a retired couple who decided against buying a motor home in which
to travel the country and instead chose to take in 15 foster children
over the years. They have officially adopted one of the children
and will be adopting another soon.
Schriner said he felt a "deep respect" for the Podillas'
willingness to sacrifice their retirement plans so that these
children might have a chance for a better future. He hopes to
use their example as a model for his vision of a seniors' Peace
Corps to tap into a segment of the population whose potential
contributions government and society have ignored for too long.
It would be part of a larger design he has for the Peace Corps,
which we would like to see grow from its current 12,000 volunteers
to millions. Schriner believes an expanded Peace Corps could tackle
a much larger portion of the country's woes, and would like to
involve peacetime soldiers in that aim.
He spoke also with Gabriel Kanawite. After hearing a report on
the TV show "20/20" some years back labeling Gallup
as "drunk town USA," Kanawite changed his undergraduate
major from accounting to drug and alcohol counseling (in which
he is now pursuing a master's degree), abandoning a far more lucrative
profession to improve the image of his beloved home town.
Kanawite's story illustrates another theme is Schriner's campaign,
that of placing the community and social justice before social
and economic mobility. He advocates redefining our quality-of-life
standards from production and consumption quotas towards improving
community and family relations.
To achieve this paradigm shift, an ambitions goal Schriner admits
would likely take more than a lifetime to effect, he suggests
encouraging employees to would work only half the regular work-week
and devoting the freed time to community service. He also believes
strongly in making community service one-third of every child's
school curriculum.
"I want our Sarah and Joseph in a school system where they
are learning just as much, if not more, about social justice,
their neighbors, healthy family dynamics . . . as they are about
math, science and English," he writes.
Before leaving, Schriner visited Gallup's Eagle Plume Society,
where he spoke with Director Harrison Jim about the program's
alternative approach to drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Rather
than provide regular counseling services, the society incorporates
traditional Native American culture into the treatment program,
a practice Schriner said "puts them at ease by making them
less defensive."
Included in the program's methods are "talking circles,"
an effort to refer to patients as relatives and traditional storytelling
to help connect visitors with their often-forgotten cultural roots.
The society began in 1995, since when the director says it has
achieved over 2,300 "successes." Schriner sees the program
as another valuable example of a local solution to a local problem.
While in Gallup, he also spoke of supporting the return of more
land to Native Americans, greater subsidies for Native American
schools and bolstering the community's soaring unemployment rate.
Schriner knows he has set a daunting task for himself, made all
the more difficult by the lack of corporate sponsorship given
the nature of his "average Joe" platform: "You
won't find a paper trail between me and ENRON."
Still, he remains hopeful. "If it sparks," said Schriner,
"and can generate a grassroots movement, we could get it
to work."
To learn more about Joe Schriner's campaign agenda, visit his
web site at www.voteforjoe.com.
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Council issues left untreated
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation Council left most of its winter
session agenda untouched, including many matters that delegates can
only consider during the four-a-year law-passing gatherings.
Certain other measures, such as waiving the 1998 Appropriations Act,
also require a two-thirds vote of the full membership (59 of 88 delegates)
to pass when raiding the six-month emergency operation Undesignated
Reserve Fund.
If delegates had approved all four requests, they would have gained
the notorious distinction of being the first council, twice in four
years, to have spent more dollars than the account held.
A request for $3 million for a pay raise (cost of living adjustment)
for all tribal employees except Head Start wasn't considered. (Head
Start jumped the gun at the summer session, gaining a two-month lead
on current fiscal year. The premature raise at the end of last fiscal
year cost Education Division Director and former delegate Genevieve
Jackson her job.)
The second request, also for $3 million, would have gone to the chapters'
Youth Employment Program. YEP is the juvenile partner of the Public
Employment Program (PEP), which the council routinely — over
continual objections by the Office of Management and Budget and the
Controller's Office — funds from the emergency account rather
than put it into the regular budget.
Delegates did tap the fund for $2 million to build dormitories in
an off-reservation tribal school in Farmington, dropping the balance
to $5,165,724. That was after allocating more than $530,000 to aid
financially strapped allottees, who are now beginning to receive $300
or $700 grants through the Huerfano Chapter, along with hay.
The untouched agenda matters included a new Grazing Act, major changes
for the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority's power, formally dissolving
the defunct Navajo Forest Products Industry and distributing its assets
at the Navajo Townsite to the Economic Development Division and Red
Lake Chapter.
Another unaddressed matter would amend how citizens will be able to
get laws on the books without going through the council by lowering
the percentage of registered voters needed on petitions for an initiative
or referendum along with dropping down the unusually high approval
level.
Also untouched:
Delaying the start of staggered school board terms.
Asking federal approval of business site lease standards.
Adding the Baca-Prewitt Chapter to the criminal code exemptions for
gambling casinos.
Forbidding delegates to serve on enterprise or Navajo Nation-owned
corporate boards.
A water rights report, although a special session is expected to be
called for the single topic.
Several condolence resolutions, reports, and changes in the Title
2 Section 164 resolution review process also were skipped, and some
have been on the agenda for more than a year, as has the on-again,
off-again Grazing Act.
After the council's Ethics-Rules Committee approved the initial agenda
about three weeks before the session began, the panel came back twice
to add things, despite the law requiring 15 days advance notice. But
delegates still piled more on during the session.
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Cibola County Court goes high-tech
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — The magistrate court here has a whole new way of doing
things when it comes to first appearances, thanks to technology.
It used to be that magistrate judges such as Eliseo Alcon and Jackie
Fisher would have to leave the county courthouse in Grants, drive
to the Cibola County Corrections Center in Milan where county prisoners
are housed, go through the security checks, be escorted to the hearing
room, conduct the first appearance, then check out of the prison and
drive back to Grants.
Now, all the judges have to do is switch on a remote television located
right in the courthouse and hold the first appearances.
"It saves a good hour each day,"Alcon said.
The video conference system costs about $12,000, but not from local
funds, rather the money came from a state grant. There are 13 other
such systems courts in New Mexico.
Ever since a sheriff's deputy was murdered transporting a prisoner
to Western New Mexico Correctional Facility in Grants, Alcon has been
concerned about courtroom safety. "We've got cases going on in
the small courtroom (magistrate courtroom in the Cibola County Courthouse)
and when they bring in prisoners for first appearances and sit them
down, you have no room for anything," Alcon said. "To me
it was a dangerous situation. It made no sense at all ... and what
was going on scared me."
The magistrate courtroom is small, about the size of a bedroom in
an average-sized home.
Alcon was surfing the internet one day when he read about other courts
using video conference systems to cut down on time not spent hearing
cases and to increase the safety factor. "I ask myself, why not
us?" Alcon said.
Investigating the matter further Alcon read about grant money from
the New Mexico Administrative Office of Courts in Santa Fe being given
for the video conference system. Alcon quickly made a telephone call
to the administrative office of courts.
As luck would have it, just as he made the call about the magistrate
court in Cibola County needing a video conference system, a court
in Taos, which was supposed to get one of the systems, reported it
no longer needed one.
"We had our system," Alcon said.
Video cameras are hooked electronically to a video screen. One is
at the detention center in Milan in a room set up for first appearances.
Two more are at the magistrate court office. The two at the magistrate
court office are placed back-to-back so the judge can conduct a first
appearance and spectators can see what is going on. A fax machine
is beside each video unit so court documents can be sent and received
a moment's notice. "The prisoner sees me, and I see him,"
Alcon said.
Even with the equipment, though, the system was not a done deal. While
state grant money paid for the video system, it did not cover expenses
for a special telephone line costing $267 a month.
"I went to the Cibola County and the county said no, that it
was having budget problems," Alcon said.
Undaunted by rejection, Alcon went to the Cibola County Corrections
Center in Milan. Warden Garland Jeffers said the prison could not
pay $267 a month, but it could afford to give $200 a month.
"I went back to Cibola County and said that the prison was going
to pay $200, so could the county pay the other $67 a month, and the
county said again they couldn't do it because of budget problems,"
Alcon said.
His next trip was to the Grants Police Department. "I asked Fred
(Radosevich, the Grants Police chief) and he said the police would
pay the rest," Alcon said.
About one and one-half months ago the system went on-line, Alcon said.
"We had some glitches we had to work out, but it is working fine
now," he said. "Time and safety, those are the reasons we've
got this system."
Alcon said that the system will eliminate first appearance problems
such as the one which took place at the detention center gates when
the media was barred from the first appearance in a murder case. The
prison requires a 24-hour notice for visitors and the first appearance
was held less than 24 hours after the murder suspect was arrested
so prison officials told media representatives a resounding "no"
the questions about attending the first appearance, which trampled
on the public's Constitutional rights.
"The media can come in on this video conference," Alcon
said. "However, the media cannot take pictures during the video
conference because the Supreme Court won't allow cameras in the magistrate
court."
To get around that problem, Alcon said he would make the video available
to the media. "That video is public record," Alcon said.
Case closed.
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Area sports
Carrie Loretto
Sports Editor
A strong defensive effort in the second half keyed a 38-32 District
6AAA victory for the Grants Lady Pirates.
"We played a good defensive game,"Grants coach Joe Hernandez
said."Bernalillo shot very well in the first half and we held
them to 13 points in the second half."
Grants went into a box-and-one defense to shut down Bernalillo's top
scorer, Missy Lovato, who hit an NBA-range three-pointer in the first
half Hernandez said. The defensive effort helped the Lady Pirates
overcome a cool 30 percent field goal shooting performance he added.
Berna Frigerio led Grants with 15 points and 22 rebounds. Antonia
Dominguez and Vail Rochlitz each contributed 10 points.
The victory put the Lady Pirates in second place in the district standings
behind Socorro with a 4-1 record. They are 10-9 overall. Grants will
try to protect its position with a key district game at Hot Springs
Friday night.
Holbrook 58, Window Rock 57
The Window Rock Lady Scouts lost its second straight game for the
first time this season.
"I warned them before the game that they would have to go out
and play hard,"first-year coach Cindy Parravano said."We
didn't play tough defense coming out, we got down by too many points."
Window Rock (22-6, 9-4) fell behind 24-8 early and was unable to recover.
Roberta Haskie scored 32 points and Jodelle Bitloy 20 as the pair
nearly single-handedly accounted for the Lady Scouts' total production.
"The rest of my team really did not show up to play,"said
Parravano.
Holbrook was led by Angie Yazzie with 14 points. Adena Johnson scored
12 and Stacey Mangum contributed 11.
Tuba City 52, Ganado 27
Senior leadership helped the Tuba City Lady Warriors
shut down Ganado to pick up a 3A North conference victory for senior
night.
"I tried to get as many seniors in,"Tuba City coach Earl
Flaggs said.
Tuba City ended up with a well-balanced effort led by Jamie Lomakema's
13 points. Coco Tsinigine added 11.
Ganado was led by Melissa Peterson with 11 points.
Tuba City (21-4, 10-3) will play its final regular season conference
game Thursday at Holbrook.
Shiprock 80, Wingate 59
Samantha Pete knocked down four of her five three-pointers
in the first half as Shiprock regrouped from an 18-14 deficit.
"It was classic Shiprock, they're threes started to fall then
we played catchup the rest of the game,"Wingate coach Al Martinez
said keyed the Chieftains' rally.
Pete finished the night with a game-high 21 points to pace a balanced
scoring effort. Crystal Frazier scored 14, Lucita Yesslith and Dionna
Begay 12 apiece and Jamie Begay added 10.
Elvina Benally led Wingate with 20 points and Nicole Moses contributed
16.
Shiprock remains unbeaten in District 1AAA with a 6-0 mark. The Chieftains
are 15-5 overall. Wingate, also 15-5, is 4-2 in district as Shiprock
swept the regular season series.
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Russell Means shows up in Navajo court
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
CHINLE — Famed American Indian activist Russell Means acknowledged
Navajo judicial jurisdiction by showing up Monday in tribal district
court here for a pre-trial conference.
On Dec. 29, 1997, Chinle tribal police jailed Means on threatening
and battery charges in a domestic dispute with his then father-in-law,
Leon Grant, and a younger relative, now an adult.
Means filed a dismissal motion on the dual grounds of lack of jurisdiction
and that Navajo jurisdiction over him would violate his equal protection
of the law Constitutional rights...
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City budget not budging to downturn
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — The city of Gallup apparently won't have to make any
major changes in this year's budget to accommodate the downturn
in the local economy.
The city council discussed the status of this year's budget and
received updates on other matters, including the wastewater treatment
center, at its work session Tuesday.
Before the meeting, Stan Henderson, the city's public works director,
told reporters that the city has made an inspection of the home
in Mentmore Meadows that has been the center of a controversy and
has found that it is in compliance with city codes.
Residents of the area had protested having a manufactured home in
their neighborhood, saying that it would reduce area property values...
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Navajo Day at the Roundhouse
Walter Howerton Jr.
Legislative Reporter
SANTA FE — The Roundhouse elevator was crammed with Navajos.
They all were speaking Navajo. And no one was asking them to explain
themselves. The Roundhouse was their house, at least on Tuesday.
It was Native American Day at the Capitol, the day the Legislature
setsaside eachsession to honor and hear from the state's Indian
people. There were Indian songs and dances in the Rotunda. And there
were Indians visiting the offices of legislators to lobby for Indian
business.
There was not a large Indian meal because, as Sen. Leonard Tsosie
told his laughing fellow senators, "Sen. (John) Pinto forgot
to bring his checkbook." Tsosie and Pinto, both Navajos, are
the only Indian members of the Senate.
Navajo President Kelsey Begaye led a contingent of tribal leaders
andcouncilmembers. Navajo military veterans and code talkers joined
the officials...
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Indian director fired
SANTA FE (AP) — The state Commission on Indian Affairs fired
its director, saying he ignored requests for his resignation.
The 10-member commission had placed Terry Aguilar, executive director,
on paid leave Dec. 3 while the New Mexico Risk Management Division
investigated allegations he sexually harassed a co-worker. The panel,
which believed Aguilar mismanaged the department, later voted unanimously
to fire him if he didn't resign by Jan. 25.
"We didn't get any response one way or the other," Commission
Chairwoman Stacey Sanchez said Monday after a commission meeting...
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AG office to have land-grant section
SANTA FE (AP) — Lawmakers expressed support Saturday for a
proposal to create a section within the attorney general's office
to deal with land-grant claims dating back more than a century.
Bills in the House and Senate would establish a division or department
in the attorney general's office to address issues involving the
1848 Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo.
"This legislation will help us fight for what is ours —
our land and our water. Nothing is more important to the future
of our state," Senate President Pro Tem Richard Romero, D-Albuquerque,
told a rally in the Capitol sponsored by the New Mexico Land Grant
Forum and Atrisco Land Grant...
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Clarification
A Las Cruces woman's name was incorrectly given to the Independent
by the New Mexico State Police as having driven a semi-truck that
ran into a police officer Oct. 30 near Deming. Micalah O'Hara was
a victim in the same accident and was not driving the semi. The
article ran Nov. 1.
Correction
Roy Talker is the owner of the McDonald's in Window Rock. His name
was misspelled in a story in Saturday's Independent.
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Deaths
Leo McKinley
LUKACHUKAI, Ariz. — Services for Leo McKinley, 56, will be
held at 10 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 7 at St. Isabel Mission, Lukachukai.
Father Caron will officiate. Burial will follow at the Community
Cemetery, Lukachukai.
McKinley died Feb. 4 in Lukachukai. He was born Dec. 18, 1945 in
Lukachukai.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Joe Dennison Sr.
NAGEEZI — Services for Joe Dennison Sr., 76, will be held at
10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 8 at the Escrito Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints. Burial will follow at the family cemetery.
Dennison Jr. died Feb. 3. He was born Dec. 17, 1925 in Fort Defiance,
Ariz.
Dennison was a Navajo Medicine Man and worked with the B.I.A.
Survivors include his wife, Nancy Dennison of Nageezi; son, Joe
Dennison Jr. of Nageezi; daughter, Josephine Castillo of Farmington;
brother, Leo Dennison Sr. of Lybrook; sisters, Nellie Dennison of
Nageezi and Ella Mae Wood of Santa Fe; nine grandchildren and 14
great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Herbert Dennison, Cornell Dennison, Eric Padilla,
Leo Dempsey, Gary Lopez Sr., Eddison Norberto and Eddison Dennison.
Odessa Madeline George LaFont
SOCORRO — Services for Odessa LaFont, 91, will be held at 1
p.m., Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Steadman-Hall Funeral Home. Pastor
Nelson Diaz will officiate.
LaFont died Jan. 31 in Soccoro. She was born Nov. 8, 1910 in Albuquerque.
LaFont was a member of the National Federation of Republican Women
and the Socorro Garden Club. She attended New Mexico Tech and volunteered
at Socorro Good Samaritan Village.
Survivors include her sons, Roland of Albuquerque and Gerald of
Truth or Consequences and four grandchildren.
Johle M. Woody
GAMERCO — Services for Johle Woody, 86, will be announced at
a later date.
Woody died Feb. 5 in Gallup and was born Nov. 30, 1915 in Coyote
Canyon into the Green Meadow People Clan for the Red
Running into the Water People Clan.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
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