That may be. But San Juan County spent $1.1 million of taxpayer dollars aggressively defending a system that disenfranchised the Navajo and disproportionately favored white candidates.
There have been three lawsuits against the county, each with the goal to allow the Navajo residents in San Juan County to meaningfully participate in government. About 52% of the county’s population is Navajo. A three-member County Commission governs the county. Until the United States sued the county in 1983, no Navajo had ever been elected to the County Commission.
The county entered into a consent decree and agreed to redraw the voting districts.