Apache County Attorney Fails to Address Issue of Contention
Channel: Apache County Individual and Property Rights Association
Date: 2014-08-05

On July 1, 2014, District II Apache County Supervisor Tom M. White, Jr. sought to add an employee in his district at a cost of $55,000. As Mr. White is busy running for elective office to the Navajo Nation, the employment of a manager to assume the duties of his office appears somewhat relevant to the discussion.  

District III Supervisor Barry Weller attempted to expound on the impact of hiring management personnel to cover the duties of the three elected county officials who are also pursuing election to the Navajo Nation. Mr. Weller was subsequently blocked by District I Supervisor Joe Shirley, Jr. and District II Supervisor Tom M. White, Jr.

Both White and Shirley are currently pursuing election to the Navajo Nation, and public discussion of issues regarding their cross-jurisdictional conflicts of interests would appear to be relevant to the conversation, especially when it involves an added cost to the taxpayers of Apache County in excess of $50,000.

Apache County Attorney Michael B. Whiting, who maintained a decidedly detached focus of attention during the entire conversation, did not bother to immediately address the issue of contention. In failing to do so, Whiting encouraged the violation of Supervisor Weller's right to Free Speech, and enabled the compromised officials to prohibit Weller from finishing his statement. 

As of August 5, 2014, Apache County Attorney Michael B. Whiting has not produced the legal opinion clearly requested by Mr. Weller in this video, while Supervisor White and Supervisor Shirley already approved an 18% pay increase for the management employee hired on July 1, 2014: the Apache County District II Manager now receives an annual salary $64,772.00.