Post by blackcrowheart on Nov 28, 2005 20:10:52 GMT -5
Navajo wants to represent Arizona district in Congress
Posted: November 28, 2005
by: Brenda Norrell / Indian Country Today
Brenda Norrell Indian Country -- Jack Jackson Jr. and Derrick Watchman.
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. - Former Arizona state Rep. Jack Jackson Jr., Navajo, is sending the message to Indian country that it's time for American Indians to be the voice of their people in the U.S. Congress.
Jackson is vying to represent Arizona's 1st District, the congressional district with the largest number of American Indians, and is urging other American Indians to rise up as candidates for Congress.
''Things are looking very promising: it's a winnable situation,'' Jackson told Indian Country Today during the National Congress of American Indians' 62nd annual convention in Tulsa.
Jackson was honored at a reception attended by former Oklahoma Gov. David Walters and members of the National Democratic Committee during the recent week-long convention, where numerous speakers urged tribal leaders to pursue positions in state and federal leadership.
Meanwhile, Jackson pointed out that he was born and raised on the Navajo Nation and would be a strong advocate for legislation to benefit Indian country at the federal level. Further, he said he knows the needs of Navajos and other American Indians.
With a large number of American Indian voters, District 1 includes Apache, Yavapai, Greenlee, Graham and Gila counties, as well as most of Navajo, Coconino and Pinal counties.
''The district covers more than half of the state's area and is roughly the size of Pennsylvania,'' Jackson observed.
Jackson said the district is home to the nation's largest and fastest-growing Indian populations, including six tribal governments. Twenty-two percent of the district's residents identify themselves as American Indians, the highest percentage in any congressional district in America.
In his direct style and pulling no punches, Jackson told ICT that incumbent Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., was listed as one of the most corrupt members of Congress by an ethics watchdog group.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington named Renzi as ''one of the 13 'most corrupt' federal lawmakers'' and accused him of financing portions of his 2002 campaign with improper loans.
Renzi responded concerning the list: ''This list is nothing more than the personal Web site of one of the biggest Democrat Party donors in the nation, and is a mouth piece for her shrill political attacks. These charges represent nothing more than a smear campaign which Jackson has chosen to associate himself with,'' Renzi said in a statement to ICT, released through his communications director Joe Brenckle.
Meanwhile Jackson, an attorney and graduate of the Syracuse University School of Law, recently served as executive director of the Arizona Commission of Indian Affairs. Jackson said he assisted the state of Arizona in fulfilling its responsibilities to its 22 Indian nations and tribes.
Prior to the position of executive director, appointed by Gov. Janet Napolitano, Jackson served in the Arizona State House representing Legislative District 2 from 2003 - '05, a district that includes Flagstaff and the much of the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona. Jackson served on the Ways and Means Committee as ranking Democratic member, the Appropriations Committee and the Natural Resources, Agriculture, Water and Native American Affairs Committee. As a state legislator, he followed the lead of his father, Sen. Jack C. Jackson Sr., who served in the state Legislature from 1985 - '04.
Currently, Jackson Jr. sits on the Arizona League of Conservation Voters and the International Network of Gay and Lesbian officials.
Before serving in the Arizona Legislature, Jackson represented tribal governments and organizations. His positions included deputy director of the Navajo Nation Washington Office, director of legislative affairs for the National Minority AIDS Council, legislative analyst for the National Indian Education Association and director of governmental affairs for the NCAI.
President Bill Clinton appointed Jackson to the HIV/AIDS Advisory Council in 2000; he also served on the boards of the National Native American AIDS Prevention Center, Phoenix Body Positive and Arizonans for Cultural Development.
Posted: November 28, 2005
by: Brenda Norrell / Indian Country Today
Brenda Norrell Indian Country -- Jack Jackson Jr. and Derrick Watchman.
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. - Former Arizona state Rep. Jack Jackson Jr., Navajo, is sending the message to Indian country that it's time for American Indians to be the voice of their people in the U.S. Congress.
Jackson is vying to represent Arizona's 1st District, the congressional district with the largest number of American Indians, and is urging other American Indians to rise up as candidates for Congress.
''Things are looking very promising: it's a winnable situation,'' Jackson told Indian Country Today during the National Congress of American Indians' 62nd annual convention in Tulsa.
Jackson was honored at a reception attended by former Oklahoma Gov. David Walters and members of the National Democratic Committee during the recent week-long convention, where numerous speakers urged tribal leaders to pursue positions in state and federal leadership.
Meanwhile, Jackson pointed out that he was born and raised on the Navajo Nation and would be a strong advocate for legislation to benefit Indian country at the federal level. Further, he said he knows the needs of Navajos and other American Indians.
With a large number of American Indian voters, District 1 includes Apache, Yavapai, Greenlee, Graham and Gila counties, as well as most of Navajo, Coconino and Pinal counties.
''The district covers more than half of the state's area and is roughly the size of Pennsylvania,'' Jackson observed.
Jackson said the district is home to the nation's largest and fastest-growing Indian populations, including six tribal governments. Twenty-two percent of the district's residents identify themselves as American Indians, the highest percentage in any congressional district in America.
In his direct style and pulling no punches, Jackson told ICT that incumbent Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., was listed as one of the most corrupt members of Congress by an ethics watchdog group.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington named Renzi as ''one of the 13 'most corrupt' federal lawmakers'' and accused him of financing portions of his 2002 campaign with improper loans.
Renzi responded concerning the list: ''This list is nothing more than the personal Web site of one of the biggest Democrat Party donors in the nation, and is a mouth piece for her shrill political attacks. These charges represent nothing more than a smear campaign which Jackson has chosen to associate himself with,'' Renzi said in a statement to ICT, released through his communications director Joe Brenckle.
Meanwhile Jackson, an attorney and graduate of the Syracuse University School of Law, recently served as executive director of the Arizona Commission of Indian Affairs. Jackson said he assisted the state of Arizona in fulfilling its responsibilities to its 22 Indian nations and tribes.
Prior to the position of executive director, appointed by Gov. Janet Napolitano, Jackson served in the Arizona State House representing Legislative District 2 from 2003 - '05, a district that includes Flagstaff and the much of the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona. Jackson served on the Ways and Means Committee as ranking Democratic member, the Appropriations Committee and the Natural Resources, Agriculture, Water and Native American Affairs Committee. As a state legislator, he followed the lead of his father, Sen. Jack C. Jackson Sr., who served in the state Legislature from 1985 - '04.
Currently, Jackson Jr. sits on the Arizona League of Conservation Voters and the International Network of Gay and Lesbian officials.
Before serving in the Arizona Legislature, Jackson represented tribal governments and organizations. His positions included deputy director of the Navajo Nation Washington Office, director of legislative affairs for the National Minority AIDS Council, legislative analyst for the National Indian Education Association and director of governmental affairs for the NCAI.
President Bill Clinton appointed Jackson to the HIV/AIDS Advisory Council in 2000; he also served on the boards of the National Native American AIDS Prevention Center, Phoenix Body Positive and Arizonans for Cultural Development.