AZTEC
San Juan County Clerk candidate Glojean Todacheene would
like to bring fresh views and diversity to the county clerk's
office.
"I'll
bring new ideas. I think people who know me know that I care about
the people of this county, the tribe and the state. Just give me
a chance," said Todacheene, a Democrat who is of Navajo and
German origin.
The
longtime Shiprock resident is currently employed as a curriculum
support administrator at Central Consolidated Schools, but will
retire in June. She said she thinks the county clerk position is
a good segue from a 26-year-career in education. During her career,
Todacheene was been employed as a home economics teacher in Newcomb
and Shiprock and principal of Mesa Elementary.
"In
education you have the power to influence young people. Some people
look at politics as a dirty word, but I see it as the power to influence,"
Todacheene said. "We're lifelong teachers and everyone
is a teacher. This is a chance to teach on a higher level."
Todacheene
said that if elected County Clerk she would focus on public outreach,
building relationships between the county and the Navajo Nation
and getting more people to the poles.
"In
my family, it was really important to vote. The minute our kids
turned 18, they were registered," she said. "I come across
many individuals who don't think it's important, but what
happens in elections influences their taxes and different parts
of their lives. They need to be a part of the process."
Born
in Ganado, Ariz. and raised in Two Grey Hills, Todacheene also hopes
to serve as a positive example for minorities in San Juan County.
"The
young people get inspired by individuals the first time a Navajo
or Hispanic ventures into a public office," Todacheene said.
"They think, 'If that person can do it, I can do it.'
As adults, we have a responsibility to our young people to show
them good character and show them the world can be a better place."
Although
outreach to the Native American community is important to her, she
said she will not run her office one-sided.
"I'll
be able to see both sides," Todacheene said. "I will not
just focus on my own people, but the entire county. There's
a lot that needs work out there."
Todacheene
graduated from Shiprock High School in 1971 and attended St. Michael's
Girls School and Kent School in Connecticut. She graduated from
the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Arts in home economics
education and Master of Arts in educational administration. She
has participated in Leadership San Juan, the Blue Ribbon Task Force
and the Shiprock Planning Committee.
The
candidate has been married to Lonnie Todacheene for 32 years and
has two adult children.
Todacheene
is running against current County Clerk Fran Hanhardt for the position.
The primary election is June 1 and the general election is Nov.
2.
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