Vice President of the Navajo Nation

Vice-President of the
Navajo Nation
Great Seal of the Navajo Nation
since January 10, 2023
ResidenceWindow Rock, AZ
Term lengthFour years, renewable once
Constituting instrumentNavajo Nation Code & Treaty of 1868
Inaugural holderMarshall Plummer
FormationJanuary 15, 1991
Salary$45,000.00 USD per year
WebsiteVice President

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

No. Vice President Took office Left office Tenure Party Election President
1 Marshall Plummer
(1948–2010)
[4]
January 15, 1991 January 10, 1995 3 years, 360 days Unknown 1990 Peterson Zah
2 Thomas Atcitty
(1933–2020)
[5]
January 10, 1995 February 19, 1998 3 years, 40 days Democratic 1994 Albert Hale
3 Milton Bluehouse Sr.
(1936–2019)
[6]
February 19, 1998 July 24, 1998 155 days Unknown Thomas Atcitty
Position vacant (July 24–August 1998) Milton Bluehouse Sr.
4 Frank Chee Willeto
(1925–2012)
[7]
August 1998 January 12, 1999 4–5 months Unknown
5 Taylor McKenzie
(1931–2007)
[8]
January 12, 1999 January 14, 2003 4 years, 2 days Unknown 1998 Kelsey Begaye
6 Frank Dayish
(born 1958)
January 14, 2003 January 9, 2007 3 years, 360 days Unknown 2002 Joe Shirley Jr.
7 Ben Shelly
(1947–2023)
January 9, 2007 January 11, 2011 4 years, 2 days Democratic 2006
8 Rex Lee Jim
(born 1962)
January 11, 2011 May 12, 2015 4 years, 121 days Unknown 2010 Ben Shelly
9 Jonathan Nez
(born 1975)
May 12, 2015 January 15, 2019 3 years, 248 days Democratic 2014–15 Russell Begaye
10 Myron Lizer
(born TBA)
January 15, 2019 January 10, 2023 3 years, 360 days Republican 2018 Jonathan Nez
11 Richelle Montoya
(born TBA)
January 10, 2023 Incumbent 2 years, 346 days Unknown 2022 Buu Nygren

Timeline

See also

References

  1. ^ "Qualifications for President & Vice-President" (PDF). Navajo Nation Election Administration.
  2. ^ Calvin, Carolyn (2010-12-31). "Many firsts in primary, general elections". Navajo Times. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  3. ^ "Navajo Nation elects Buu Nygren President". New Mexico News Port. 9 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Democracy Era Begins For Largest U.S. Tribe". New York Times. 1991-01-17. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  5. ^ Becenti, Deenise (1998-02-20). "With Law on Heels, Navajo Boss Quits; Hale Steps Down As Navajo Boss". Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  6. ^ "Navajo name new president - again". Kingman Daily Miner. Associated Press. 1998-07-26. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  7. ^ Brunt, Charles D. (2012-06-25). "Former Navajo Code Talker Willeto Dies". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  8. ^ Rushlo, Michelle (1999-12-12). "Navajo inauguration is all-day event". Eugene Register-Guard (page 3A). Associated Press. Retrieved 2012-07-09.