Curtis Yanito
Interviewed by Cal Nez — Politics on the Navajo Nation (2026)
Candidate Snapshot
Office SoughtCouncil Delegate
Home ChapterAneth, Teec Nos Pos, Red Mesa, Mexican Water, Rock Point, Sweetwater, Tiznas, Bustol, Tochacan
LanguagesNot provided
Executive Summary
Incumbent. Uranium/water rights litigation focus (27 mines on grazing permit; close to settlement). Utah-based meetings (many Utah delegates). Sparse platform in transcript due to severe connectivity issues throughout. Sponsored Navajo land nursing home tribal organization status legislation. Supports 638 with business admin oversight needed.
At a Glance
Professional Background
- Council Delegate (current term); HEHSC committee; Water rights team; Northern Agency representation
Leadership Style
- Persistent, uranium-focused, Utah-community oriented. Calls in instead of traveling where possible. 'I'm always 15 minutes early and I'm the last to go.'
Biography & Career
Northern Agency Utah chapters (Tiznas, Bustol, Red Mesa, Teec Nos Pos, Rock Point, Mexican Water). Incumbent. Uranium mining litigation knowledge. Part of water rights team. Utah-based engagement (many meetings held in Utah). Calls in rather than traveling to Window Rock when possible.
Standardized Candidate Scorecard
5.5/10
Limited — interview evidence averageBased on 12 of 12 categories the interview covered
Strong (8.0–10)Moderate (6.5–7.9)Limited (below 6.5)Not assessed (not in interview)
Scores reflect evidence shown in the available interview only — not a comprehensive assessment of the candidate. Categories the interview did not cover are marked "Not assessed" and are left out of the average. How are these scores determined?
Governance Knowledge5.0/10
Downplayed Title II ('I don't see a problem with it... it doesn't have that much power') against the broad consensus and dismissed the Office of Government Development as money going nowhere.
Leadership5.5/10
Active incumbent work — sponsoring nursing-home legislation and a uranium settlement — but his answers were scattered.
Composure & Character5.0/10
Candid that he had privately raised concerns with the president, but defensive of the status quo, with connectivity badly disrupting the exchange.
Community Engagement5.5/10
Participates in meetings when invited and works area projects, but acknowledged he does not track his own chapter attendance.
Transparency & Accountability5.0/10
Described himself as transparent (emailed reports, call-ins) yet was vague on accountability for the missing $24 million.
Long-Term Vision5.5/10
Floated a public-private-partnership/Section 17 export vision and a surgical-tourism idea, but presented it loosely and at times unrealistically.
Constituent & Chapter Advocacy6.0/10
Pointed to concrete area work — a uranium settlement covering 27 mines on a grazing permit, nursing-home legislation, and water-settlement permit restoration.
Legislative & Committee Effectiveness6.0/10
As a HEHSC incumbent he sponsored specific legislation (a 638 conversion via MOA) and showed familiarity with the process.
Land, Grazing & Homesite Leases6.5/10
Strong area-specific land knowledge: uranium-contaminated grazing permits, water-settlement land-use restoration, livestock rotation, and Bears Ears resource planning.
Healthcare & 6385.5/10
On HEHSC he praised the Utah Health System's 638 structure but conceded its reliance on non-Navajo staff and deflected on over-billing, leaning on 'the board oversees that.'
Local Economic Development5.0/10
Invoked Section 17 and World Bank public-private partnerships and an export economy, but the explanation rambled and he could not clearly state the Navajo Business Opportunity Act.
Infrastructure (roads, water, broadband)5.5/10
Referenced the water settlement and Utah delivery logistics, with little infrastructure build-out detail.
Strengths
Uranium litigation knowledge; water rights advocacy; nursing home legislation; long-term commitment to constituents; punctuality ethic
Areas for Further Clarification
Very poor connectivity throughout entire interview severely limited depth; some responses unclear; NBOA knowledge limited; business development framework somewhat vague
Notable Quotes
"I'm always 15 minutes early and I'm the last to go."
"We're almost there for a settlement."
"These poor individuals without no Medicaid or anything, they'll be qualified."
Candidate Resources
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Primary source: Official Cal Nez interview, Politics on the Navajo Nation (2026). Production Standard: Diné Civic Center Candidate Page Publication Standard v2.0.
This candidate page was produced by the Diné Civic Center based on the candidate's public interview with Cal Nez (Politics on the Navajo Nation, 2026 election cycle). All observations are based on publicly available information and the candidate's own statements. The Diné Civic Center does not endorse, rank, or recommend any candidate for any office. This page is provided as a civic education resource for Navajo Nation voters.
