San Juan County commissioner Bruce Adams threatens “No Native Americans would be elected”
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Sunday Edition | Jan. 15, 2012 | By:NPStaff
“Then no Native Americans would be elected,” San Juan County Commission chairman Bruce Adams
San Juan County Commission Chairman, Bruce Adams.
Earlier last week, the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission and the Naabik’iyati’ redistricting subcommittee, and the Navajo Nation Department of Justice file a lawsuit for what is described as “alleged unequal representation in the San Juan County’s commission districts.” in Utah.
The Faux pas
Recently, the San Juan County Commission chairman Bruce Adams denied the allegations in a interview with the Salt Lake City Tribune and said the commission is in compliance with the 1984 consent decree.
“The system we have right now works well,” he said, “and guarantees that there is at least one Native American on the commission.”
Adams said the issue is being pushed by Leonard Gorman, director of the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission, who wants the San Juan County Commission to be dominated by Navajos.
Mr. Adams goes on to say “Navajos who live on land owned by the Navajo Nation in San Juan County do not pay property taxes” adding. “It isn’t fair for them to be in charge of a budget that depends on property taxes.” said Adams.
Further, Bruce Adams threatens the lawsuit could take San Juan County back to the at-large election system it had before 1984.
“Then no Native Americans would be elected,” he said.
Executive Director Leonard Gorman explained the Naabik’iyati’ redistricting subcommittee authorized the NNHRC to participate in San Juan County, Utah’s redistricting effort because a large Navajo population resides in the Navajo Nation portion of southern Utah. Mr. Gorman emphasized they need to protect the voting rights of the Navajo citizens.
“Navajo citizens in San Juan County should be treated as any other citizen of the United States,” said Leonard Gorman.
The Breakdown
Mark Maryboy became the first Navajo elected to the commission. His brother Kenneth Maryboy now holds that District 3. Adams represents District 1 and Phil Lyman represents District 2 in San Juan County.
Officials argue, those districts were drawn based on a 1980 Census. According to the lawsuit since then, the population has grown and changed, leaving the districts with uneven populations.
According to the San Juan County Court documents, District 1 has a population of 5,347 and is 29.96 percent Navajo. District 2 has 4,557 people and is 29.21 percent Navajo. District 3 contains 4,849 residents and is 92.8 percent Navajo
Attorney Brian M. Barnard of the Utah Civil Rights and Liberties Foundation, Inc. from Salt Lake City will litigate on behalf of the Navajo Nation and the Navajo plaintiffs.
A Faux pas indeed, this is probably the most oppression I have ever seen come out of the San Juan County Commission Chairman’s mouth…
“The system we have right now works well,” he said, “and guarantees that there is at least one Native American on the commission.”
O that’s lovely! people it guarantees that there is at least one Native American on the commission!!!! OMG!
“Navajos who live on land owned by the Navajo Nation in San Juan County do not pay property taxes” adding. “It isn’t fair for them to be in charge of a budget that depends on property taxes.”
I did not know we needed to pay taxes in order for us to practice our RIGHT to VOTE!!!!
I call for this man resignation!!!!! he is so out of touch…..