Tsosie denied Navajo council seat

Associated Press

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. -- Leonard Tsosie had kept his fingers crossed in hopes he'd be allowed to keep his seat on the Navajo Nation Council while serving as a New Mexico state senator.

But the Navajo Office of Hearing and Appeals ruled against him this week.

Now he's taking his case to the Navajo Supreme Court and asking that the decision by Chief Hearing Officer Marcella King be overturned.

King has ruled that Tsosie can't serve two sovereign governments and has declared his election to the tribal council invalid.

Tsosie said he's disappointed with King's decision, but not surprised.

Tsosie was elected to the tribal council in November to represent the Whitehorse Lake, Pueblo Pintado and Torreon chapters in New Mexico.

That seat will remain vacant pending a decision by the Navajo Supreme Court.