Weekend Edition | Jan. 14, 2012 | By: NPStaff

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The president makes it appear as though he and his staff are solely responsible for all these “successes.”  Joshua Lavar Butler 

Navajo Council Delegate, Joshua Lavar Butler To'Nanees' Dizi in Tuba City, Ariz.

Navajo Council Delegate Joshua Lavar Butler had some very strong words for the Navajo President Ben Shelly. Mr. Butler represents To’Nanees’ Dizi in Tuba City, Ariz. Mr. Butler was responding to a press release that list the current administration success for the year of 2011. The letter was written to the Navajo Times.

The letter emphasized on how Mr. Shelly did not mention the 22nd Navajo Nation Council in any of these “successes.” Mr Butler goes on to say that the “Prez fails to give credit to Council”

With the recent critical analysis from the San Juan County Sheriff Ken Christesen about poor law enforcement on the Navajo Nation, critics rally to slam the administrations policies on public safety.

Mr. Butler states the President, “worked to create a safer environment while creating jobs for the Navajo Nation and its residents”  and said President Shelly fails to mention that it was the Council and previous councils that helped to push the judicial-public safety complexes forward, adding the administration press release appears to make claim to sole responsibility and fails to give credit to appropriate groups.

Mr. Butler also, praised the former President Joe Shirley “his administration and the previous councils for helping to initiate construction of these much-needed facilities.”

The letter also stated that President Shelly mentions breaking “ground for two more Navajo gaming facilities, Twin Arrows, near Flagstaff, Ariz., and Northern Edge, near Farmington, N.M.” adding the President again fails to mention or credit the Council for helping to initiate these projects and supporting the projects through the construction and planning phases.

Mr. Butler said “the list goes on and I truly believe credit should be given to those involved and to those who actually rolled up their sleeves to make these projects come to “fruition.”  The president makes it appear as though he and his staff are solely responsible for all these “successes.”  The 22nd Navajo Nation Council has accomplished a lot this year. They initiated changes to the Navajo Nation Code, they have continued support for many ongoing projects, they are working on bond financing to help stimulate the local economy and to help build projects across the Navajo Nation.  There are also individual successes within the respective standing committees that go unnoticed.”

As the Navajo Council delegates flex there political muscle to President Shelly, indeed he will be faced with a internal tug a war with the 24, a battle that could be described as divided and less united. Mr. Butler campaigned effortlessly for the former Navajo presidential candidate, Lynda Lovejoy. Who lost to then Vice President Shelly in Nov. 2010.