Candidates break out the mud
Shirley adminstration denies using tribal resources for campaign purposes

By Natasha Kaye Johnson
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — With less than two months to go before the general election, it seems as though the mud has hit the fan.

After a statement made by Navajo Nation presidential candidate Lynda Lovejoy in the Sept. 7 article of the Navajo Times, implying that the Joe Shirley Jr. campaign is using tribal resources to carry out its campaign, the Shirley-Shelly camp issued a press release stating that the allegations made by Lovejoy are a politically motivated personal attack.

"That's a serious allegation," said Patrick Sandoval, campaign spokesman. "We need to get the record straight immediately."

Sandoval maintains that the campaign has strictly enforced Navajo Election laws that prohibit the use of tribal resources in a campaign. Sandoval stated that while Shirley is president 24/7, the campaign has abided strictly by election laws by keeping official business and campaign activities completely separate since the announcement of Shirley's re-election campaign.

"It's our responsibility to maintain the responsibility of the President," said Sandoval. "For them to do something like that, it's just not very healthy campaigning."

Sylvia Laughter, Public Information Officer for the Lovejoy-Phelps campaign, said the campaign does not plan on withdrawing the statement made by Lovejoy, basing it on Shirley administration employees who Laughter said came directly to the Lovejoy campaign to express their concerns.

"If indeed the allegations of misconduct are untrue and are unfounded, then the Shirley campaign should have no hesitation to prove these allegations wrong," said Laughter.

Though no formal complaint has been filed, Laughter said that their campaign has received information about how some Shirley employees have used tribal vehicles to drop off equipment at parade sites and reports that employees have received campaign-related calls on tribal phones.

Though no one from the Lovejoy campaign has come forward to file a complaint or give hard evidence of violation of the Navajo Nation Election laws, Laughter maintains that Lovejoy is not creating fictitious statements and that the statements are coming from valid constituents of the Navajo Nation.

Though attacks and "mudslinging" on contenders in election year are not unheard of, Sandoval said the information presented must be credible and questions the legitimacy of the statement.

"It's got to be the truth though," said Sandoval. "It's got to be factual."

"What should be the most important objective here is the commitment to be honest and fair in the campaign reporting," said Laughter, adding that the Shirley campaign needs to be fully aware of the Navajo Elections laws.

"She's just shooting from the hip," said Sandoval, referring to Lovejoy's undermining statements regarding the Shirley campaign. "It's just baseless."

"It's wrong for Shirley's staff to undermine those statements," said Laughter. "The better thing for them is to come forward and clear things up."

No platform means attacks
In a press release statement, Shirley's campaign stated because Lovejoy has presented no platform, no accomplishment, no Navajo Nation governing experience, and no other information to demonstrate she is qualified to serve as Navajo Nation President, she has adopted a strategy of unfounded attacks.

"To make statements like that are totally disrespectful of Mrs. Lovejoy," said Laughter, adding that Lovejoy's accomplishments and experience have been highlighted and have been made public.

Shirley's campaign believes that Lovejoy's strategy is designed to undermine the public's trust in President Shirley, rather than to campaign on issues and policies important to the Navajo people. With this, the Shirley campaign questions the ability for the Lovejoy campaign to run the Navajo Nation.

"It's not our run-of-the-mill Nation," said Sandoval. "What's your plan Lynda Lovejoy? What are your accomplishments to show you can run this $600 million government?"

Laughter maintains that the Lovejoy campaign is not making personal attacks, but are presenting facts.

"If we can show the facts, those are critical to the decisions to the Navajo people need to make," said Laughter. "If they want to call that mudslinging, so be it."

Laughter added that if the Shirley campaign is going to make those accusations, they need to do their homework. Regarding the statement, Laughter said the non-experience statement is just an attempt to win the campaign, and that the statements are unfounded.

"It's because his re-election bid is running pretty ragged and that's obvious," said Laughter. "Desperate people make desperate statements."

The Shirley campaign has also expressed concern about the late reports turned in by the Lovejoy campaign, with Sandoval questioning how capable Lovejoy is of running the Navajo Nation if she cannot turn in a report on time.

"Because somebody may have been a day or so late doesn't mean they are incapable of handing an organization," said Laughter, adding that there has been a lack of reporting in the Shirley campaign report, with information not accounted for.

'Stick to the issues'
Laughter did not confirm whether the Lovejoy campaign would use the strained relationship between President Shirley and vice-president as part of its campaign strategy, though it has caused some previous Shirley and Dayish supporters to become disenchanted.

Laughter said she witnessed some of the disrespectful behavior toward vice-president Frank Dayish, Jr., and was disappointed that Shirley would sink to that level.

"What I saw was the disregard for the word K'e," said Laughter. "It didn't look like the Shirley-Dayish campaign were on the same board."

"It's not like they absolutely hate each other," said Sandoval, adding that both the president and vice-president Dayish have carried out their separate initiatives. "It's not the case. They both finished and it worked."

As for the Shirley campaign, Sandoval said they do not plan to highlight how Lovejoy's election could possibly be a direct violation of Navajo tradition, though it has been a highly discussed and publicized issue among the people.

"We're going to stick to the issues," said Sandoval. "(But) if people truly believe that, we respect that."