Minority Representation, Resistance, and Public Policy: The Navajos and the Counties

This article examines Navajo Indian representation on the governing boards of six county governments in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. External pressures, especially decisions by the federal government, have encouraged increased Navajo representation and changes in county policies that benefit people on the reservation. Beyond this, the findings for individual counties are consistent with previous research in suggesting that the size of the Navajo population as a percentage of the county population is an important factor affecting Navajo success in winning seats and the allocation of benefits to reservation residents. Yet, opposition to Navajo representation, the ability of Navajos to secure office, and the policy significance of their representation are far more complex than usually suggested by the relevant literature based largely on black and Hispanic experiences. Copyright , Oxford University Press.