Jenkins vs. Hale
Hopi planner running for Arizona Senate

By Stan Bindell
For The Independent

KYKOTSMOVI, Ariz. — Royce Jenkins, director of the Hopi Tribe's Community Planning Department, has declared his candidacy for the Arizona State Senate because he wants better representation for Hopi and other parts of the district.

Jenkins especially wants to see help for small businesses, and he wants to see the reservation get more money returned from taxes that it pays into the state.

Jenkins will be running against incumbent Arizona State Sen. Albert Hale. Hale is a Democrat. Jenkins will run as a Republican.

District 2 includes the Navajo, Hopi, Hualapai, and Havasupai reservations as well as Flagstaff.

Jenkins emphasizes that he does not want to make this a Navajo versus Hopi situation, but he feels that Hale has geared most of his representation toward Navajo while forgetting about Hopi and the other parts of the district.

"He thinks that District 2 is Window Rock and nobody else," he said. "I don't mind Navajo getting its share, but Hopi and other parts of the district need representation too."

Jenkins noted that Hale was unopposed in the last election and he wants to give him a challenge. He said he is the underdog since Democrats have a 2-1 ratio in voting edge in this district.

Jenkins said he has the support of the Coconino County Republicans and other Republicans in the district. He noted that Hopi Chairman Ivan Sidney signed his petition.

"I want to convince people we need somebody to represent them. We all have needs whether we are in Havasupai, Hualapai or anyplace else in the district," Jenkins said.

Jenkins is running as a Clean Elections candidate meaning that if he can raise 252 $5 contributions that he will receive approximately $11,000 for the primary race and approximately $17,000 for the general election from the state. There are no other declared candidates yet.

The primary race is scheduled for Sept. 12 and the general election is set for Nov. 7.

Jenkins needs signatures from 187 registered voters to get on the ballot. Jenkins said that Native Americans pay taxes when they leave the reservation and shop in the border towns including Holbrook, Winslow and Flagstaff. He said more money should be returned to the reservation in the form of services so they get something for the taxes they are paying.

"We are not a gaming tribe. We don't get money. We need to educate the people in the legislature about Native Americans," he said.

Jenkins said people living in the cities use water and other resources from the reservations. He said the reservations' residents need to get something in return. Jenkins said small businesses need help from the state in making health insurance more affordable to their employees.

"We also need to promote small businesses and let them know that the state is there to protect them," he said.

Jenkins serves on the state's Rural Development Council and the Governor's Council on Small Business. He said the reservations need better infrastructure, especially improved roads, in order to bring in more businesses.

Jenkins said he wants to help with education. He said rural schools don't have access to everything that schools in the cities have, and he wants to help level the playing field.

Jenkins also feels his personality will help.

"I'm likable and approachable. Some have said they can't talk to Hale. I've met with him twice and had no response. We have to have an open door. My door is always open," he said.

Born in Phoenix, Jenkins was raised in Winslow and Holbrook. He graduated from Twin Wells Indian School, now known as Sun Valley Indian School, located east of Holbrook.

He was a high school dropout, but went to college and earned a AA in organizational leadership from Estrella Community College in Avondale, a BA in urban studies from ASU-West and an MA in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University.

He served 22 years in the Army and he has served as an intern for U.S. Sen. John McCain. He credits the GI bill with making college affordable.

He worked for the state's motor vehicle department and at Luke Air Force Base before going to work for the Hopi Tribe about two and ahalf years ago.

His top priority with the tribe is trying to bring in housing and jobs. Jenkins has worked with the Native American Community Organizing Project in Phoenix.

"I advocated for Native Americans. I promoted those from the top to the bottom of the list," he said.

Jenkins can be reached at 734-1224.

Albert Hale
Arizona State Sen. Albert Hale said he wants to represent everybody in the district, but that Navajos bring more problems to him. He said he promotes legislation that helps the tribes in the district as well as all the tribes in Arizona.

Hale was responding to candidate Royce Jenkins comments that he doesn't do a good job of representing most parts of the district.

Hale said he plans to sponsor two major pieces of legislation this year. The first would call on the state to give more money back to all the tribes in the state from the Transaction Privilege Tax.

The second proposal would call on the state lottery to provide $10 million to pay tuition for all students in the state to attend any of the three state universities as long as they had a certain grade point average.

Hale said he worked closely with former Hopi Chairman Wayne Taylor Jr. and he recently met with Hopi Chairman Ivan Sidney.

"I've known both of them a long time. I expect to work closely with Chairman Sidney. I had a good meeting with him and his delegation," he said. "I want to see how we can work together. He knows my office is available."

Hale said he also recently met with representatives from the Hualapai and Havasupai Tribes. He added that because tribes are on federal lands that federal jurisdiction often takes precedent over state law; so, there are many issues he can't address on the state level.

Hale said he will also work closely with Janet Raegner, who works as a lobbyist for the Hopi Tribe.

Hale said he works closely with Flagstaff Mayor Joe Donaldson and others in Flagstaff. While he often supports their cause, he usually lets a Republican Senator sponsor their proposals since the legislature is dominated by Republicans.