Betty Reid

The Republic | azcentral.com

A Navajo court official disqualified Chris Deschene

Deschene did not answer the official's questions

The questions were posed in the Navajo language. Deschene may appeal

A Navajo court official disqualified Chris Deschene from running for tribal president Thursday after the candidate failed to answer the court officer's questions in the Navajo language.

Richie Nez, Navajo Office of Hearings and Appeals hearing officer, issued the decision based on tribal election law, which requires Navajo tribal candidates to speak Navajo fluently. Deschene, 43, finished second to Joe Shirley during the primary and is on the ballot for the Nov. 4 Navajo election.

Stacy Pearson, a spokeswoman for the Deschene campaign, issued a statement after the hearing that quoted Deschene as saying,"I am Navajo. Let the people decide. I spend each and every day speaking to our people in our Navajo language, Dine Bizaad. This decision transcends the presidential election. It's bigger than just me. The collective rights of our people must be respected."

Deschene said the decision sends young Navajos who support him a message that they "aren't Navajo enough to lead. That is not OK."

Deschene said he plans to appeal the decision.

Though Deschene said he would learn Navajo fluently by the end of his first term if elected, two Navajo citizens disagreed.

Dale Tsosie and Hank Whitethorne, who lost in the primary race, filed a grievance that led to Thursday's hearing. They accused Deschene of lying about speaking Navajo fluently to get on the ballot.