Post by blackcrowheart on Apr 12, 2007 10:57:10 GMT -5
Native American legislator Tsosie leaves big shoes to fill
Reporting from the capital
Alamogordo Daily News
By Walter Rubel, Santa Fe Bureau Chief
01/28/2007
SANTA FE The familiar brown, white and gray Navajo blanket is still draped
over the brown leather chair in the middle of the second row of the Senate
chambers, as it has been for years. But the chair itself has remained empty this
session.
Leonard Tsosie of Crownpoint, who was elected in 2004 to his fourth term in
the New Mexico Senate, was forced to give up his seat when he won election as
a delegate to the Navajo Tribal Council. Tsosie had been hoping to serve both
the state and the Navajo Nation, but the Navajo Supreme Court ruled that he
could not be both a delegate and a state senator, and gave him until Monday
to choose one.
Tsosie explained to The Associated Press that he felt he could better attend
to the daily needs of the people in the Torreon, Pueblo Pintado and
Whitehorse Lake chapters as a Council delegate than he could as a state senator.
While it is understandable that Navajo law would require Council delegates to
be devoted solely to the Tribal Council, the unfortunate consequence of the
court's ruling is that it removes a senator who had been the most passionate
and articulate advocate for the Navajo Nation in the New Mexico Legislature,
and perhaps in all of state government.
Tsosie's office, which he shared with Sen. Bernadette Sanchez on the second
floor of the Roundhouse, was a daily gathering place for Native Americans from
throughout the state who would come to Santa Fe during the session seeking
relief for a myriad of problems.
As a member of the Finance Committee, Tsosie made sure that, not only
Navajos, but all Native Americans were included in the discussion on any bills
dealing with the spending of state funds. It didn't matter if the topic was
education or agriculture, Tsosie understood how each bill would impact Native
Americans, and he did all he could to make sure they were protected.
And, he wasn't afraid to take on the powerful. In a committee meeting last
year, Tsosie grilled the head of the State Police as to why the DWI roadblocks
in northwest New Mexico always seemed to pop up on the roads leading home
from the powwows, but never on the roads leading home from the Chamber of
Commerce banquets.
Tsosie, Sanchez and Sen. Lee Rawson took on the governor and lieutenant
governor last year because they wanted a payday lending bill that was much
tougher than the one coming down from the governor's office.
County commissioners in the district Tsosie served had until Friday to submit
names for his replacement. Gilbert Gallegos, a spokesman for Gov. Bill
Richardson, said they are hopeful a new senator can be named and sworn in by
early next week.
He or she will have large shoes to fill.
Reporting from the capital
Alamogordo Daily News
By Walter Rubel, Santa Fe Bureau Chief
01/28/2007
SANTA FE The familiar brown, white and gray Navajo blanket is still draped
over the brown leather chair in the middle of the second row of the Senate
chambers, as it has been for years. But the chair itself has remained empty this
session.
Leonard Tsosie of Crownpoint, who was elected in 2004 to his fourth term in
the New Mexico Senate, was forced to give up his seat when he won election as
a delegate to the Navajo Tribal Council. Tsosie had been hoping to serve both
the state and the Navajo Nation, but the Navajo Supreme Court ruled that he
could not be both a delegate and a state senator, and gave him until Monday
to choose one.
Tsosie explained to The Associated Press that he felt he could better attend
to the daily needs of the people in the Torreon, Pueblo Pintado and
Whitehorse Lake chapters as a Council delegate than he could as a state senator.
While it is understandable that Navajo law would require Council delegates to
be devoted solely to the Tribal Council, the unfortunate consequence of the
court's ruling is that it removes a senator who had been the most passionate
and articulate advocate for the Navajo Nation in the New Mexico Legislature,
and perhaps in all of state government.
Tsosie's office, which he shared with Sen. Bernadette Sanchez on the second
floor of the Roundhouse, was a daily gathering place for Native Americans from
throughout the state who would come to Santa Fe during the session seeking
relief for a myriad of problems.
As a member of the Finance Committee, Tsosie made sure that, not only
Navajos, but all Native Americans were included in the discussion on any bills
dealing with the spending of state funds. It didn't matter if the topic was
education or agriculture, Tsosie understood how each bill would impact Native
Americans, and he did all he could to make sure they were protected.
And, he wasn't afraid to take on the powerful. In a committee meeting last
year, Tsosie grilled the head of the State Police as to why the DWI roadblocks
in northwest New Mexico always seemed to pop up on the roads leading home
from the powwows, but never on the roads leading home from the Chamber of
Commerce banquets.
Tsosie, Sanchez and Sen. Lee Rawson took on the governor and lieutenant
governor last year because they wanted a payday lending bill that was much
tougher than the one coming down from the governor's office.
County commissioners in the district Tsosie served had until Friday to submit
names for his replacement. Gilbert Gallegos, a spokesman for Gov. Bill
Richardson, said they are hopeful a new senator can be named and sworn in by
early next week.
He or she will have large shoes to fill.