Navajo Nation Delegate Shepherd Announces Run for Apache County District II Supervisor

Navajo Nation Council Delegate Alton Joe Shepherd announced he would run for Apache County District II Supervisor at the Ganado Chapter House, the Navajo Times reported in a Politics piece by Arlyssa Becenti posted April 14, 2016. The article said Shepherd planned to enter the upcoming Democratic primary and "will face off against current supervisor Tom White Jr."

Shepherd framed his campaign around county services and road planning, telling the chapter audience, "Many have been told all county services are limited by policy, management and funding." He pushed for longer-range infrastructure work, asking, "Are we just going to continue to push dirt? We need to develop long and short range plans for our roads."

The Navajo Times noted Shepherd already served on the Navajo Nation Council and chaired its Resources and Development Committee. On how he would manage both roles if elected county supervisor, the article reported Shepherd said he would not abandon his council duties: "I’m going to continue to do that, basically the people voted me in for four years." The story added Shepherd planned to assemble staff support in both offices so "he can continue to be an effective leader for both the county and the nation."

Apache County’s biography of Shepherd provides local and personal context. The county page identifies him as from Steamboat Canyon who currently resides in Ganado, is married to Wendy D. Shepherd of Dilkon, and has "four beautiful daughters." The bio lists a professional background in law enforcement and says he has served eight years in public service roles including a Ganado Fire Board position and membership on the 22nd and 23rd Navajo Nation Councils. Those council ties match the Navajo Times description that Shepherd represented Jeddito, Cornfields, Ganado, Kinlichee and Steamboat chapters.

Official Navajo Nation records and releases document later developments in Shepherd’s public service. A Navajo Nation Council posting for Legislation No: _0189-24__, sponsored by Danny Simpson and posted July 22, 2024 at 4:28PM, says, "The purpose of the resolution is to confirm the appointment of Alton Joe Shepherd to serve on the Navajo Engineering and Construction Authority Board of Directors for a term of four (4) years." The posting lists exhibits A through D including an appointment letter, letter of interest, resume and Certificate of Navajo Indian Blood and reiterates that "Final Authority: Resources and Development Committee Vote Required: Simple Majority."

The Office of the President and Vice President later recognized Shepherd’s statewide role, saying, "President Nygren also extended warm congratulations to Supervisor Alton Joe Shepherd, who was officially welcomed as the new County Supervisors Association of Arizona President during a November 20 Board of Directors meeting." That same release described him as having "more than 17 years of elected public service experience, including leadership roles on the 22nd and 23rd Navajo Nation Councils."

A brief original report misstated the district as District I; contemporaneous reporting and the Apache County biography identify District II as the correct seat Shepherd sought. The April 2016 announcement triggered a Democratic primary contest with Tom White Jr., but the Navajo Times item does not include election results. Future verification should confirm the exact calendar date of the Ganado Chapter House announcement, the outcome of the Democratic primary, and the certification timing for the Navajo Engineering and Construction Authority appointment.