Despite a majority American Indian population, San Juan County politics have long been dominated by white Republicans. That changed Monday with the swearing in of two new commissioners, which form a Democratic and Navajo majority in San Juan’s three-member commission.
Some residents fear the change, while others welcome increased representation for communities they say were neglected in the past. And the new commission has signaled its interest in reversing positions on public lands management, working more collaboratively with tribal governments and expanding services in the county’s most rural areas, where many of the county’s American Indian residents live.
On this week’s episode of “Trib Talk," government reporter Taylor Stevens joins Benjamin Wood to discuss the changing politics of San Juan County, and ongoing litigation surrounding the 2018 election.
“Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.
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