Skip to content


2019 in review: A sea change in San Juan County, Utah, governance …by Bill Keshlear

In 2019, longtime tribal activists Kenneth Maryboy, left, chairman of the San Juan County Commission, and Willie Grayeyes, District 2 commissioner, faced cultural and political fault lines in governing the county. (Bill Keshlear)

Last February, I asked “Who’s the Boss in Utah’s Bears Ears Country?” The following six-part essay is an attempt to partially answer that question after a year of watching events unfold there.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL 6-PART ESSAY.

From Part One…

San Juan County, Utah, comprises a splendor of canyons, cliffs and castles of sandstone. Anyone who has made a random discovery of 1,000-year-old artifacts of human habitation, trekked to the top of a Canyonlands National Park overlook at sunset or spent a deathly silent, crystalline night starring at the canopy of Creation can attest to its unearthly beauty.

However, representative government in the county, which will play a critical role in preserving that landscape, seems intractably bogged down by ideological dissembling, undemocratic “outside influences” accountable to no county voter, opaque tribal politics, lawyers and judges making public policy and environmental profiteers.
..

Part 1: Rule by resolution. Kenneth Maryboy and Willie Grayeyes took their oaths of office as commissioners a little under a year ago after what was described as a “historic” election. They immediately staked their claim to power by choosing to govern primarily through resolutions written by their longtime private attorney and approved without advice or informed consent of virtually anyone in the county.

Part 2: The power of environmental nonprofits. It’s hard to overstate the influence of Utah Diné Bikéyah, the tribal-affiliated nonprofit founded and run by Grayeyes and Maryboy until they took office. They’ve succeeded as leaders in attempts to create Bears Ears National Monument in a way that took results of a presidential election and proclamation to derail.

Part 3: Open-records stonewalling. Numerous requests for public records filed under GRAMA were generated in 2019 due in part to the climate created by the new commissioners’ evasiveness and open hostility toward many constituents and those constituents’ forceful, if sometimes rowdy, responses. The county (Grayeyes and Maryboy) was ordered to produce records in three cases.

Part 4: Gutter rhetoric. Unfiltered comments of public figures were part and parcel of 2019’s hard-edged politicking in San Juan County. It was on full display in the weeks and months leading up to November’s special election that asked voters whether they wanted to form a committee to study possible changes in county government.

Part 5: A defeat for good government. A full-court press of a campaign mounted by the San Juan County Democratic Party, its allies and prominent Navajo Nation politicians defeated an ostensibly non-partisan effort to change the way the county works. Results of November’s special election hinged on rhetoric of retribution and the politics of payback. An alternative story line — charting a path toward better democracy — was a non-starter.

Part 6: But can they fix the roads? To a certain extent the new commissioners’ relationship with officials of the Navajo Nation will determine their success in office. They’ve played an insider’s game of reservation politics for a long time, but so far they’ve been unable to leverage that experience into discernible benefits for county residents.

Click Here to Read the Full 6-Part Essay…

Posted in Uncategorized.


50 Responses

Stay in touch with the conversation, subscribe to the RSS feed for comments on this post.

  1. situs slot alternatif says

    This is a topic that is close to my heart…
    Many thanks! Exactly where are your contact details though?

  2. سایت ایرانی معتبر says

    سلام، من دیروز اتفاقی در اینترنت با این وبسایت
    رسیدم و راستش رو بخواید برام جالب بود.
    محتواش مفید بود و به ندرت همچین
    سایتی ببینم. احساس می‌کنم برای افراد مختلف کاربردی
    باشه. اگه دنبال محتوای مفید هستن حتما یه نگاهیبندازن.
    به طور کلی خوشم اومد و قطعا دوباره استفاده می‌کنم

    به شکل خلاصه

    برای دوست‌داران

    گیم‌های پولی

    میخوان تست کنن

    این آدرس

    به نظرم می‌تونه

    انتخاب درستی باشه

    یه نکته مهم اینه که

    وبسایت‌هایی مثل

    enfeјar online

    و

    sibbet اصلی

    فعالیت گسترده‌ای دارن

    در کل داستان

    قابل استفاده بود

    و

    دوباره

    بازدید می‌کنم

    .

    Heree is my web page – سایت ایرانی معتبر

  3. istanbul escort says

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts on ıstanbul escort.
    Regards

  4. بازی انفجار says

    excellent ppints altogether, yߋu just gаined a logo new reader.
    What might you suggest about yoᥙr submіt that
    youu made ѕоme days ago? Any positive?

    Havve a look at my web site – بازی انفجار

  5. shortnews.webflow.io says

    Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you penning this write-up plus the rest of the website is extremely good.

  6. Casino 1 Einzahlen 20 Spielen says

    Casino 1 Einzahlen 20 Spielen wahrscheinlichkeitsrechnung

  7. Nadia says

    pokie machine laws canada, online casino uk top 10 and casino frenzy
    250 free spins, or real money holder for casino (Nadia) online roulette united
    states

  8. basketball wetten erklärung says

    beste wettanbieter app

    Look at my blog post; basketball wetten erklärung

  9. situs bokep says

    Valuable info. Fortunate me I discovered your website accidentally, and I am stunned why this accident did
    not took place in advance! I bookmarked it.

  10. Bennie says

    777 casino united kingdom, aristocrat pokies countries where online gambling is prohibited (Bennie)
    united kingdom and bet uk casino, or best slot sites for
    winning usa

  11. topsportsbettingoffers.com says

    Heya i’m for the first time here. I found this board and I to
    find It truly useful & it helped me out a lot.

    I hope to present one thing back and help others like you
    aided me.

  12. The Epoch Times says

    Why visitors still make use of to read news papers when in this technological globe all
    is available on web?

  13. Bettie says

    Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could add to my blog
    that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates. I’ve been looking for a
    plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe
    you would have some experience with something like this.
    Please let me know if you run into anything.
    I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.

  14. horse racing today's non runners​ says

    how to bet on grand national online​

    Also visit my website – horse racing today’s non runners​

  15. Lorrine says

    united kingdom casino down game load machine no play slot, party hanover
    casino (Lorrine) united states
    and casinos in central united kingdom, or united kingdom roulette
    betting strategy

  16. situs dewasa says

    Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thank you so much, However
    I am having problems with your RSS. I don’t understand the reason why I can’t subscribe to
    it. Is there anyone else having the same RSS problems?
    Anybody who knows the answer can you kindly respond?

    Thanx!!

  17. Basketball wetten vorhersagen says

    england deutschland Basketball wetten vorhersagen

  18. generate trc20 wallet says

    I am sure this post has touched all the internet people, its
    really really pleasant paragraph on building
    up new blog.

    Visit my web blog :: generate trc20 wallet

  19. 789bet says

    Thank you a lot for sharing this with all folks you
    really know what you’re speaking about! Bookmarked. Kindly
    also talk over with my site =). We can have a hyperlink change contract between us

  20. ความรู้รอบตัวภาษาไทย says

    Hello there! Do you know if they make any plugins to safeguard against
    hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on.
    Any recommendations?

  21. Bet365 basketball spieler wetten says

    sportwetten app

    Check out my site :: Bet365 basketball spieler wetten

  22. кракен даркнет тор says

    Теневой магазин Кракен — это популярная экосистема для теневого обмена, которая весьма востребована в глубокой сети.
    Тут можно отыскать разнообразные вещи и сервисы, что недоступны для покупки в белом интернете.
    Все операции на платформе выполняются с использованием браузера Тор, https://kraken2trfqodidvlh.com/ предоставляя максимальную полную конфиденциальность.
    Впрочем, подобно большинство даркнет сайты, этот ресурс имеет свойство быть недоступен или изменён.
    По этой причине, очень нужно сохранять прямую ссылку на сайт, ради постоянного доступа на данную площадку.

  23. tipico live wetten basketball says

    sportwetten vorhersage

    Visit my site :: tipico live wetten basketball

  24. slot sex online says

    Thanks to my father who told me about this website, this website is actually awesome.

  25. Josh says

    من خیلی خلاصه بگم، این سایت برای بررسی اولیه
    بد نبود وچند نکته مثبت داشت.
    وقت بخیر، خواستم نظر شخصی خودم
    رو درباره این موضوع بگم. همین چند وقت اخیر وقتی یکی از
    دوستام درباره پیش‌بینی فوتبال حرف
    می‌زد به این سایت رسیدم. وقتی
    چند قسمت رو دیدم متوجه شدم متن‌ها خیلی
    پیچیده نیستن. چیزی که برای من مهم بود اینه که هر کسی باید
    قبل از ورود، شرایط و جزئیات رو کامل بخونه.
    یکیاز دوستای نزدیکم قبلاً درباره بازیانفجار زیاد سوال می‌پرسید.
    همین باعث شد من هم دقیق‌تر نگاه کنم.

    از نظر من نکته مثبتش این بود که برای
    کسی که تازه با این فضا آشنا
    می‌شه قابل فهم بود. ولی خب هنوز هم
    جای بررسی بیشتر وجود داره.
    برای آدم‌هایی که تازه با این فضا آشنا شدن دنبال مقایسه بین سایت‌های مختلف هستن، می‌تونهنقطه شروع بدی
    نباشه. وقتی این حوزه رو نگاه می‌کنی اسم‌هایی مثل پلتفرم enfejaгonline همراه
    با ѕibbet آنلاین باعث شدن این فضا بیشتر
    دیده بشه. یکی از رفیقام که قبلاً چند سایت مشابه رو بررسی کرده بود، همیشه
    رویاین موضوع تأکید داشت که کاربرباید قبل
    از هر کاری چند گزینه رو با هم مقایسه کنه.
    جمع‌بندی من اینه که به نظرم می‌شه به عنوان یک گزینه
    قابل بررسی بهش نگاه کرد. فکر می‌کنم منطقی‌تره هم تجربه
    بقیه رو بخونه و هم خودش بررسی کنه.
    من احتمالاً بعداً دوباره برمی‌گردم و بخش‌های بیشتری رو نگاه می‌کنم، چون بعضی قسمت‌هاش برای مقایسه با
    سایت‌های دیگه قابل توجه بود.

    Alѕo visit my web blog: سایت اخبار فوتبال
    (Josh)

  26. la placita mexican store says

    Your style is so unique compared to other folks I have read stuff from.
    Many thanks for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I will just book mark
    this blog.

  27. webpage says

    Almost all video genre, including black variations, can be discovered on Ebony Tube.
    In the Ebony Mom thumbnail, there is a charcoal cougar getting nailed, and a young hottie having it from behind
    in the aisle photo for Ebony Teen. Simply the tip of the iceberg of the page’s list of areas include Ebony Squirting, Ebony Threesomes,
    Ebony Public, and Ebony Creampies. webpage http://git.biandejun.com/franciscohilla

  28. Caramel Macchiato Starbucks says

    Ridiculous story there. What occurred after?
    Thanks!

  29. Massage Forum says

    I’ve read a few good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking
    for revisiting. I wonder how so much attempt you set to make this sort of wonderful informative site.

    My website … Massage Forum

  30. child hardcore sex says

    Greetings from Colorado! I’m bored to death at work so I decided to browse your site on my iphone during lunch break.
    I love the information you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home.
    I’m shocked at how quick your blog loaded on my cell phone ..
    I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, wonderful site!

  31. basketball over under wetten says

    sportwetten lizenz österreich

    Check out my homepage … basketball over under wetten

  32. sportsbook Betting platform says

    best sportsbooks online

    Feel free to visit my blog post: sportsbook Betting platform

  33. mejores casinos / marcas says

    Mantené un registro de las cargas y los retiros lo que jugás y retirás. Se ve tedioso, pero al cabo de un mes vas a disponer de una imagen cruda de cómo va tu interacción con el casino.

  34. nsfw images says

    Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this
    blog before but after checking through some of the post
    I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll
    be book-marking and checking back frequently!

  35. официальный сайт says

    Hmm is anyone else having problems with the pictures on this blog
    loading? I’m trying to find out if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog.
    Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

  36. situs porn says

    Unquestionably imagine that which you stated.
    Your favorite reason seemed to be at the internet the simplest thing to have in mind of.
    I say to you, I certainly get irked whilst people consider issues that they just don’t recognize about.

    You controlled to hit the nail upon the highest and also outlined
    out the entire thing with no need side-effects
    , people can take a signal. Will probably be again to get more.
    Thanks

  37. check my reference says

    There is definately a lot to learn about this issue.

    I really like all the points you made.

  38. xxx says

    I wanted to thank you for this fantastic read!! I certainly enjoyed every little bit of it.
    I have you bookmarked to look at new stuff you post…

  39. Betting apps Online says

    norwich Betting apps Online odds

  40. Dewey says

    best online tottenham betting tips (Dewey) offers

  41. tkslot says

    Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and I find It really
    useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back
    and help others like you aided me.

  42. link alternatif slot says

    Have you ever considered creating an e-book or guest authoring on other websites?
    I have a blog centered on the same subjects you discuss and would really like to have you
    share some stories/information. I know my viewers would enjoy your work.

    If you are even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e-mail.

  43. بازی انفجار says

    Ԍood blⲟg post. I absolutely appreciаte tһi sіte.
    Keеp iit uⲣ!

    Loook at my web site – بازی انفجار

  44. Arturo says

    all types of sports live betting (Arturo)

  45. video ngentot says

    I like the helpful info you provide in your articles.
    I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here frequently.
    I am quite certain I will learn many new stuff right here!
    Best of luck for the next!

  46. Situs Online Resmi says

    I think this is among the most significant info for me.
    And i am glad reading your article. But should remark on few general things,
    The website style is perfect, the articles is really excellent :
    D. Good job, cheers

  47. sex videos says

    If you are going for most excellent contents like I do, only visit this website every day because it presents
    feature contents, thanks

1 119 120 121 122 123 127



Some HTML is OK

or, reply to this post via trackback.