Interview Questions & Answers
Darryl Bitsoi
Draft — summaries in our own words, pending editor sign-off.
Darryl Bitsoi is running for the Naschitti, Tohatchi, Mexican Springs, Twin Lakes, and Coyote Canyon chapters. His interview with Cal Nez was candid: he leads with values — communication, accountability, and putting communities first — and openly acknowledged he is still learning several governance specifics. Below are the questions Cal asked, short summaries of Bitsoi's answers in our own words, and follow-ups a voter might still want answered.
Watch or read the full interview, and see the scorecard, on Darryl Bitsoi’s profile. This page is a nonpartisan summary; the Diné Civic Center does not endorse any candidate.
Platform & Branch Conflict
Cal askedWhat's your platform, and how would you address the unequal three-branch balance?
Bitsoi framed his platform as a community effort (“we,” not “your own”) and put communication at the center — being upfront about the issues and what's in the best interest of the people, and opening direct lines with the executive branch so the branches are on the same page. He agreed the three branches aren't in balance and attributed much of it to individuals.
Follow-up questions worth asking
- What's the first concrete step to open those lines?
- What structural change — not just communication — would you back?
Government Reform
Cal askedAre you familiar with government reform and the office running it?
Bitsoi candidly said he isn't deeply familiar — he's read about it — and Cal connected it to the unfinished business since 1989 and the defunded Office of Government Development.
Follow-up questions worth asking
- Will you study the pending reform measures and take a position?
- Would you restore funding to the Government Development Office?
Decision-Making
Cal askedWould you decide on the merit of a resolution, or your chapters' positions?
Bitsoi said his own chapters come first, but that he would weigh whether a measure is doable, feasible, and worth it on the merits, rather than trading votes for chapter support.
Follow-up questions worth asking
- When chapter interest and Nation-wide merit conflict, which wins?
- Can you give an example?
Health Care & 638
Cal askedDo you agree with 638, and are the facilities functioning?
Bitsoi supports 638 “if you have the right personnel,” and pointed to accountability and the facility boards. Pressed on readiness, he said he doesn't think the Nation is ready to fully run independent 638s yet and would need to demonstrate the capacity first, noting 638s lean on third-party billing while private hospitals have a paying population.
Follow-up questions worth asking
- What would “demonstrating readiness” look like?
- What would you require of a 638 board?
Economic Development & the NBOA
Cal askedWhat is economic development, and what's the Navajo Business Opportunity Act?
Bitsoi described economic development as becoming self-sustaining, big or small. On a stalled chapter store and on the NBOA, he leaned on communicating with everyone involved and establishing accountability, and did not detail the Act itself.
Follow-up questions worth asking
- What's the first step a Navajo entrepreneur should take, and where do they go?
- What's one NBOA change you'd make?
Land & Resource Issues
Cal askedChaco Canyon fracking, zoning, the checkerboard allotment area?
Bitsoi said he is against fracking near Chaco, and was candid that he is not yet familiar with the zoning specifics or the checkerboard land-allotment issue that touches his region.
Follow-up questions worth asking
- Will you take a position on Chaco-area leasing once briefed?
- What's your plan to get up to speed on allotment and checkerboard land?
Questions that didn’t come up
Topics a voter in this district might still want to hear about:
- The Navajo Business Opportunity Act in detail, and a concrete small-business plan.
- The checkerboard/allotment and zoning issues in his own area.
- How he would vote on the Síhasin / Permanent Fund or a contested budget item.
- Specific roads, water, and broadband projects for his chapters.
What a strong answer sounds like
Not a judgment of this candidate — just what a specific, substantive answer includes, so you can weigh any candidate’s response:
Governance Knowledge: Name the Title/office and a position on the pending reform.
Economic Development: Walk a constituent through the first business-licensing step.
Healthcare: Define the readiness benchmark for an independent 638.
Land: State a clear position on Chaco-area leasing and the allotment issue.
This page is a nonpartisan civic-education resource. The Diné Civic Center does not endorse, rank, or recommend any candidate.
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