Letter: Lovejoy, supporters need to look to the future

To the editor:

With the Navajo Presidential race now in the rearview mirror, the time has come for Lynda Lovejoy and Earl Tulley, as well as their supporters, to put aside their differences and move forward for the betterment of the Navajo Nation.

In many ways, the campaign revealed several things about both Shelly and Lovejoy and their running mates that were less than flattering and illustrated that the Nation may have several obstacles to overcome before meaningful growth can occur.

Unfortunately, the recent action by Ms. Lovejoy point to a former candidate (and a perceived top woman leader) upset with a political loss than a leader seeking to lead by example. Losing an election after winning by a near landslide in the primary is no doubt hard to swallow. It begs the question, if how she managed her campaign, especially in the general election, is a good indication of her leadership potential (or lack thereof), then perhaps Navajo voters made the right choice.

Lovejoy's decision to sound off with words of attack was unfortunate, untimely and totally inappropriate. Throughout her campaign, Ms. Lovejoy often came across as an angry candidate and tended to reprimand voters. Losing an election should not force someone into throwing a full blown temper tantrum, which in hindsight, may have been one of the issues that cost her the election.

Despite the fact that following the election, one of the first things her opponent did was praise Lovejoy and Tulley for their campaign and expressed hope that they would be involved in the Nation's goals.

The events of the recent past and what now appears as someone not willing to concede the election outcome paints Lovejoy and her campaign organization as sore losers rather than as persons interested in working for the betterment of her people as she professed during her campaign.

Holding a politically elected office is not the only way someone can contribute to their people.

Her action does not paint her as someone interested in bettering the Nation, but rather a person who stops participating when things don't go her way.

After receiving support from so many Navajo voters, it is disappointing to see an otherwise top Navajo woman leader turn her back on the Nation she claimed to love.

Wallace Hanley

Window Rock, Ariz.

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