Shaquille Begay — Interview Q&A
≈ 7 min read · or listen, or skim the bold lines
B · From the record Summaries are drawn from Cal Nez’s interview. Quotations are not published until checked against the recording. How we verify →
Answer summaries in the site’s words, drawn from the recorded Cal Nez interview (Politics on the Navajo Nation, 2026) — not quotations and not the candidate’s own wording. Their exact words are in the video, linked from their profile.
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Long-Term Economic Strategy
Cal asked: How would you make decisions for the whole Nation?
Begay argued the Nation only addresses the next three to four years and must instead plan strategically for the next 10, 20, 30, even 50 years — running a profitability and return assessment on legislation and purchases (how much is spent, and how many years to earn it back).
Not sure how to weigh this answer? The five lenses, in brief ▾
- Transparency & accountability: who is responsible, and how would progress be measured and verified?
- Root cause: does this address the underlying problem, or only the symptom?
- Culture — K’é / Hózhǫ: does it strengthen kinship, restore balance, honor future generations?
- Collaboration: who would need to work together — and does the answer name them?
- Prevention vs. damage control: does it prevent harm, or only respond after it?
Higher Education Funding
Cal asked: Would you support free college for Navajo students?
Rather than free tuition, Begay favors service-commitment agreements — too many students earn degrees and don't return, so funding would be tied to a commitment to come back and serve; he would pursue it through legislation, partnerships, and updating ONSFA.
Not sure how to weigh this answer? The five lenses, in brief ▾
- Transparency & accountability: who is responsible, and how would progress be measured and verified?
- Root cause: does this address the underlying problem, or only the symptom?
- Culture — K’é / Hózhǫ: does it strengthen kinship, restore balance, honor future generations?
- Collaboration: who would need to work together — and does the answer name them?
- Prevention vs. damage control: does it prevent harm, or only respond after it?
Health Care & 638 Oversight
Cal asked: Where does health-care revenue come from, and how do you feel about privatization?
Begay explained that roughly 70–75% of facility revenue comes from AHCCCS (Arizona Medicaid), per his estimate, with a smaller share from private insurance and other third parties, with a smaller share from third-party billing; he's not opposed to a private practice in principle (638 itself is non-profit) but would judge it on market need. He called for stronger HEHSC oversight, citing concerns about provider vetting and weak oversight.
Not sure how to weigh this answer? The five lenses, in brief ▾
- Transparency & accountability: who is responsible, and how would progress be measured and verified?
- Root cause: does this address the underlying problem, or only the symptom?
- Culture — K’é / Hózhǫ: does it strengthen kinship, restore balance, honor future generations?
- Collaboration: who would need to work together — and does the answer name them?
- Prevention vs. damage control: does it prevent harm, or only respond after it?
Executive-Legislative Conflict
Cal asked: How would you resolve the standoff?
As someone who isn't a Nation employee, Begay said he would approach it unbiased — meet with the President, get both viewpoints, and build the budget on long-term strategic planning rather than the four-year cycle.
Not sure how to weigh this answer? The five lenses, in brief ▾
- Transparency & accountability: who is responsible, and how would progress be measured and verified?
- Root cause: does this address the underlying problem, or only the symptom?
- Culture — K’é / Hózhǫ: does it strengthen kinship, restore balance, honor future generations?
- Collaboration: who would need to work together — and does the answer name them?
- Prevention vs. damage control: does it prevent harm, or only respond after it?
Vetting Contracts & Failed Purchases
Cal asked: How would you handle big contracts?
Pointing to failures like ZenniHome and the deteriorating Washington, D.C. building, Begay said he wouldn't vote quickly — he would assess each company's origin, expertise, portfolio, and completed jobs first.
Not sure how to weigh this answer? The five lenses, in brief ▾
- Transparency & accountability: who is responsible, and how would progress be measured and verified?
- Root cause: does this address the underlying problem, or only the symptom?
- Culture — K’é / Hózhǫ: does it strengthen kinship, restore balance, honor future generations?
- Collaboration: who would need to work together — and does the answer name them?
- Prevention vs. damage control: does it prevent harm, or only respond after it?
The Navajo Business Opportunity Act (NBOA) & Business Structure
Cal asked: What is the Navajo Business Opportunity Act, and which business entity would you trust?
Begay explained the NBOA gives Navajo-owned businesses first preference and walked through the ownership tiers; he would prioritize Navajo-owned firms and said he'd favor a corporation (with a board of directors for oversight) over an LLC — noting ZenniHome was an LLC.
Not sure how to weigh this answer? The five lenses, in brief ▾
- Transparency & accountability: who is responsible, and how would progress be measured and verified?
- Root cause: does this address the underlying problem, or only the symptom?
- Culture — K’é / Hózhǫ: does it strengthen kinship, restore balance, honor future generations?
- Collaboration: who would need to work together — and does the answer name them?
- Prevention vs. damage control: does it prevent harm, or only respond after it?
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Round 2 — the follow-up interview
Shaquille Begay returned for a second-round interview before the primary. It has its own page: Round 2 answers →