Danielle Notah, of Tohatchi, N.M., is the presumptive new District 1 County Commissioner, following her nomination at a meeting of the McKinley County Democrats Aug. 13.
With no Republicans in the race, the two Democrats – Notah plus District 2 primary winner Walt Eddy – will be unopposed on November’s ballot, and will be sworn in to begin their service next January.
Notah’s unusual path to the Commission started with the June primary. She ran unsuccessfully for County Assessor. Meanwhile, Ernest C. “Charles” Becenti III withdrew from the primary after the deadline for the county to submit ballot information to Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver’s office, so his name appeared on the June 7 ballot – and he won with 44% of the vote. He made his withdrawal official with a June 24 letter, leaving the seat open.
“I ran for county assessor this past primary. I didn’t get the position but as I traveled around McKinley County and I met so many great people, that really opened my eyes and my heart to people. There is a need for change,” Notah said in an interview with the Sun. “Things happen for a reason. I feel like I was put on this path and I can make good positive changes for McKinley County, not only my district, but the county as a whole.”
Notah grew up in Tohatchi and graduated from Tohatchi High School. After spending a few years in North Dakota getting her bachelor’s degree in business management, she returned.
She worked for the Intertribal Agricultural Council as a tribal liaison for the Navajo Nation doing technical outreach for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
She lives in Tohatchi today, raising her four children (boys 16, 12 and 10, and a girl, 8) and working as a substitute teacher for Gallup-McKinley County Schools.
Even though she won’t be sworn in until January, Notah isn’t wasting any time. She’s already scheduled a meeting with community members concerned about Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital, which she said will be her top priority on the commission.
“For natives, we have public health services like IHS. Non-natives don’t have that ability to go there. Where are they going to go?” she said. “My highest priority is to get that squared away. It needs to be put to rest ASAP so people can be at ease and know they will have that still available.”
She also wants to help ensure a quality education for the community’s children, and see that county roads are improved.
The next McKinley County Democrats event will be a meet-and greet with candidate for State Treasurer Laura Montoya, at 5:30 pm Sept. 14 at the Veterans Helping Veterans Center, 908 E. Buena Vista Ave.
By Holly J. Wagner
Sun Correspondent
