Complaint filed against Dilkon chapter manager for multiple ethics violations

The complaint that was filed with the Navajo Office of Hearings and Appeals last month alleges that Barton abused her position of power as the chapter manager when, between March 26, 2021, and July 19, 2023, she hired her husband as a vendor and employee and issued him 53 unauthorized Dilkon Chapter Checks totaling $48,858.20 for payroll, materials and mileage reimbursements. The Navajo Nation Office of Ethics and Rules is seeking restitution in the full amount owed and to have Barton removed from office immediately, and be unable to run for office for five years and until the restitution amount is paid in full.

Barton had a similar situation in 2001 when the Navajo Nation Ethics and Rules Office imposed sanctions against her, terminating Barton from employment with the Navajo Nation Regional Behavioral Health Authority. The incident was regarding pay collected by Barton in her position while traveling as an elected official. At the time she had claimed she did not take annual leave or leave without pay, saying she was granted “flex time” to attend to duties in her elected capacity, thereby placing her outside the parameters of violating Navajo law. Navajo Nation employees who are also elected officials are prohibited from claiming a salary while attending a meeting as an elected official, and are required to take annual leave or leave without pay to tend to their elected position duties. No “flex-time” is mentioned in the statute.

As part of those sanctions, Barton was unable to be employed with the Navajo Nation for a period of five years, and was removed and disqualified from all public elective offices subject to the Navajo Nation Election Code, including the positions of the Dilkon Chapter Secretary-Treasurer and Dilkon Community School Board for five years. For that incident she was ordered to pay restitution to the Navajo Nation in the amount of $2,974.81