Russell Begaye, right, and his running mate, Jonathan Nez Photo from Facebook

Members of the Navajo Nation will finally get to choose a new president on Tuesday.

Joe Shirley Jr. and Russell Begaye are in the final stretch of an extremely bumpy election season. But the source of the friction did not come from the candidates themselves but from other politicians on the reservation who tried to delay the vote through the court system and, when that didn't work, through legislative and executive meddling.

Joe Shirley Jr., left, and his running mate, Dineh Benally. Photo from Facebook

All of that is set to end on April 21, barring some extraordinary act. And once tribal members choose a leader, the winner will be sworn in sometime next month.

“Look at what is going on right now within the tribal government,” Shirley, who previously served two consecutive terms as president and plans to pursue government reform if he wins, told The Navajo Times. “The government is very unstable. The leadership is very unstable. There is no transparency. There is no predictability.”

Begaye entered the campaign late, following the removal of Chris Deschene from the ballot due to his lack of fluency in the Navajo language. The former delegate to the Navajo Nation Council plans to emphasize economic development if elected.

“Sometimes we overcomplicate things when the solutions are right before you,” Begaye told the Associated Press. “We think out of the old box. We have yet to get out of that.”

The winner will replace President Ben Shelly, who placed seventh in last year's primary. He was sworn into office in January and tried to stop next week's election from taking place.

Shelly and the Navajo Council want voters to re-consider the language fluency requirements for presidential and vice presidential candidates. A referendum has been scheduled for June 9.

Get the Story:
Navajo voters head to polls in belated presidential election (AP 4/16)
Preparations in place to hold presidential election on Tuesday (The Navajo Times 4/16)
Shirley: The Navajo people want a government that is predictable (The Navajo Times 4/16)
For Russell Begaye, illegal dumping is a major concern in his platform (The Navajo Times 4/16)
Russell Begaye for President: We Need to Modernize Our Infrastructure (Indian Country Today 4/16)
Joe Shirley for President: We Need a Better Relationship With Federal Government (Indian Country Today 4/15)
Latest petition asks district court to stop Navajo Nation special election (The Farmington Daily Times 4/15)

Related Stories:
Navajo Nation Supreme Court rebuffs attempt to block election (4/14)
Navajo Nation presidential election still on tap despite meddling (4/13)
Navajo Nation presidential candidates call for April 21 election (4/2)
Navajo Nation leaders object to presidential election on April 21 (4/1)
Navajo Nation Supreme Court orders April 21 presidential vote (3/23)
Rhianan Curley: Navajo Nation leaders destroy trust of people (3/20)
Navajo Nation Council considers funding for presidential election (03/13)
Editorial: Navajo Nation set to choose new president on April 21 (03/03)
Navajo Nation Supreme Court issues decision in election dispute (02/23)
Navajo Nation Supreme Court to issue ruling in election dispute (02/12)
Supporters of Chris Deschene still upset with handling of election (01/16)
Editorial: Enough is enough with Navajo Nation election drama (1/15)
Navajo Nation leader starts second term despite election loss (1/14)
Agreement reached for leader of Navajo Nation to stay in office (1/12)
President of Navajo Nation remains in office amid election delay (1/8)
Controversy continues over Navajo Nation presidential election (1/5)
Navajo Nation's highest court dismisses challenge to candidate (12/17)
Appeal set in dispute over Navajo Nation presidential hopeful (11/26)
Complaint against Navajo Nation presidential hopeful dismissed (11/24)
Blog: Play-by-play of election controversy on Navajo Nation (11/21)
Navajo Nation Council fails to override veto on language bill (11/14)
Navajo Nation Council to consider language requirement veto (11/13)
Navajo Nation schedules December 23 presidential election (11/10)
Navajo Nation candidate Russell Begaye names running mate (11/6)
Petition seeks removal of Navajo Nation presidential hopeful (11/4)
Andrew Curley: Election flap exposes troubles in Navajo Nation (11/3)
Navajo Nation postpones presidential vote as legal drama ends (11/3)
Chris Deschene still urging Navajo Nation voters to choose him (10/30)
Navajo Nation president vetoes bill to address language issue (10/29)
Navajo Nation election officials refuse to delay upcoming vote (10/28)
Navajo Nation candidate Chris Deschene won't halt campaign (10/24)
Navajo Nation's top court orders new ballots without candidate (10/23)
Christopher Chavis: Navajo court got it wrong in fluency case (10/22)
Navajo Nation presidential hopeful to be removed from ballot (10/22)
Navajo Nation court still mulling decision in presidential case (10/21)
Top Navajo Nation court holds hearing in presidential dispute (10/20)
Navajo presidential candidate Chris Deschene stays on ballot (10/14)
Navajo presidential candidate to dispute removal from ballot (10/10)
Navajo presidential candidate loses ruling over language ability (10/9)
Navajo Nation won't delay election despite presidential dispute (10/2)
Navajo presidential candidate in doubt over fluency in language (9/29)
Navajo Nation might postpone election due to legal challenge (9/25)
Navajo Nation court to hear language issue affecting candidate (9/24)
Appeal filed over Navajo language ability of presidential hopeful (9/17)
Navajo Nation presidential candidate a target over fluency issue (09/11)
Navajo voters oust incumbent president Ben Shelly in primary (08/27)