KAYENTA, AZ – The Navajo Nation Presidential Candidates will be presenting their final perspectives before voters head to the primary poll elections on August 03, 2010 at their respective Chapters and other designated voting sites throughout the Navajo reservation.  The Kayenta Presidential Forum and Debate will be held at the Kayenta Recreation Center beginning at 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.    Local business owner, Nina Heflin said, “We have tried to work with various administrations once they were in office, but our participation in the business site leasing process has been futile all these years.  Nothing has changed, as far as I’m concerned.”

So, one of the main focus and questions, at the Navajo Nation Presidential Forum, will be on obtaining small business site leasing through a 99-year lease, thus giving value to the Navajo land base.  Most Navajo Nation business owners agree and argue that a 99-year lease would make it easier to obtain small business loans to provide build on equity for their businesses.  Right now, the Navajo Nation can only provide what is called a “25+25+25″ 75-year business lease where a business site lease is subject to review and renewal every 25 years.  Most banks look at such a business site lease as temporary and holds no value for them as collateral. 

Local business owners have argued for years that the “25+25+25″ Year Lease is just another huge barrier; and Nina Hefilin who took an interview over the phone during her break,  helps run the Kayenta Hampton Inn and Burger King, says the business site leasing process is  ”set forth by bureaucrats who know nothing about running and owning a small business.” She and many others believe this has caused nothing but undue ignorance about business ownership to this day on Navajo lands.  “We need to be there to ask important questions before they even get into office,” Nina says.  The local business association is meeting and preparing questions about the possibility of doing away with the Labor Relations office and advocating for a flat rate lease for long term businesses.   The local Veterans organization and community members are also developing questions for the forum.   

Most likely, the Hotel Occupancy Tax will be a major topic, as well as legalizing alcohol for sale in local restaurant establishments.  As the community of Kayenta is awaiting a major growth spurt, many issues are beginning to be raised regarding community development, water rights, a green economy and even the eventual closure of the Peabody Mine.  The Peabody Western Coal Company at one time provided at least $40 million dolllars to the operations of the Navajo Nation Government. 

According to the Navajo Nation Election Administration website, these are the candidates for Navajo Nation President at this time:  Rex Lee Jim, Donald Benally, Ben Shelly, Daniel Peaches, D. Harrison Tsosie, Linda M. Lovejoy, Sharon Clahchischilliage, Dale E. Tsosie, Jerry Todacheenie, Arbin Mitchell, Anthony Begay, and George Herrera (Write-in Candidate). 

The candidates for the Navajo Nation Council for the Chilchinbeto/Kayenta/Dennehotso area are Stanley Clitso, Katherine Benally, Albert Page Tinhorn, Mary Keahy, and Albert Page Tinhorn.  The doors at the Kayenta Recreation Center will open at 4:00 pm for the Candidates to share their ideas, campaign platform, and be available to answer questions.  The Forum will promptly begin at 4:30 pm and several moderators will select from a pool of questions submitted by the public.     

For more information, you can call Malcolm Benally, Community Development Coordinator at (928) 697-8451.