Letter: The Coconino County election and what it means to county reservation residents

To the Editor:

I often pondercd the idea what can the county government do for me and my fellow Diné citizens being that we don't pay county property taxes.

As we all know, the fact is that county services are paid for by the citizens of the county who pay property taxes to the county. As Diné citizens of Coconino County living on the reservation, we don't pay county property taxes so we don't pay for any of the services (or developments) provided. This technically is the simple truth so why should we bother to vote when the predominately Anglo residents of the county hold this against us? Despite this fact, I'm amazed (and glad) to see some senior citizen centers and the Louise Yellowman Park in Tuba City being built and paid for by the county.

Most of us older folks on the Rez know what kinds of services that are provided by the county. To name them, they maintain county roads, county parks and recreation (and one amphitheater), a health department, a county sheriff s department, a community development department, a career center, some senior citizen services, maintain Ft. Tuthill, and operate the county court system. Let me ask how many of these services (even in the form of an outreach program) do we have on the reservation? The sad answer is "not much." Need I ask why?

As far back as I can remember, the Non‑Indian citizens of the county have always tried to exclude us from participation in county government because we don't pay county property tax and that all we want is something for free. Of course this is not true if you look at things closely.

It is an obvious fact that the county government is focused on the Flagstaff area when it comes to providing services. Like the reservation, the people of Page and Fredonia are, for the most part, forgotten and receive little or no services from the county. Having said that, I feel sorry for the people of Fredonia who get flooded almost every year and no one from the county is there to take some responsibility, Really, this has been going on for eons.

Before I decided to write this letter, I was looking at the county's Web site and there was a link containing a citizen survey that was done in 2007, The questionnaires asked of "the man on the street" were like "What do you like (or dislike) most about living in Coconino County?" and "Are you satisfied with the amount (and. quality) of services provided by the County?" and "Are you willing to pay higher taxes to provide more (or improve) services in the County?" and "What other services would you like to have in the county?"

The answers to these questions were listed and the majority of the people questioned gave very optimistic viewpoints of the county's performance. However, it appears to me that all these questions were designed primarily for property owners of Flagstaff because that is where all these services are concentrated. It is no wonder these surveyors stayed in Flagstaff to "complete" their survey because there is nothing to survey elsewhere. If I had been interviewed here in Tuba City, I would have said, "What services?"

The county's website also mentioned a group known as the Intertribal Advisory Council which was created by the Board of Supervisors to deal with "Indian questions". Are these people on the council suppose to tell the Supervisors what we are thinking, what we want or need? If this is the case, we should elect a person to this council instead so our wants and needs will be heard by the county government.

In closing, I would like to commend Jamescita Peshlakai (District 5) and Steve Darden (District 4) for their courage in running for a seat on the Coconino County board of Supervisors. They have big challenges ahead (when elected) judging by what Louise Yellowman was able to accomplish for District 5 during her tenure as Supervisor. I just hope enough people will vote because I know they have strong leadership abilities and will fight for our rights as citizens of the county.

Kent Walker

Leupp, Ariz.

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