Apache County residents now have a newly appointed county attorney following months of legal drama regarding who would hold the position. On Dec. 16, the Apache County Board of Supervisors remedied the situation following an executive session, choosing from the three applicants for the position. Those applicants included attorneys Devin Brown, Criss Candeleria and Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren. The majority vote went to Blackwater-Nygren, with Chair Dr. Joe Shirley and Vice Chair Alton Joe Shepherd voting in favor and Board Member Nelson Davis voting against. The Apache County Board of Supervisors has just three members.
Blackwater-Nygren is a former Arizona State Representative who, during her tenure, was the youngest lawmaker in the state. She graduated from Monument Valley High School in 2013, then graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Stanford University and a Juris Doctor from Arizona State University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Science, Technology and Society. She holds a Juris Doctorate in Federal Indian Law from Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University.
Blackwater-Nygren is also First Lady Blackwater-Nygren as her husband, President Buu Nygren is president of the Navajo Nation. She grew up in Red Mesa and maintains a home there with her husband. Blackwater-Nygren and President Nygren have two children. Blackwater-Nygren is the first woman and indigenous person to hold the Apache County attorney position.
The decision comes after Apache County found itself in an awkward position following the November election as former county attorney Michael Whiting was re-elected into office despite a criminal indictment for misuse of public monies and threatening and intimidating a political opponent, although it should be noted that Whiting was the only candidate on the ballot for that position. Whiting was removed from office in October by the Apache County Board of Supervisors after his law license was suspended.
