Ben Shelly
| Ben Shelly | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 7th President of the Navajo Nation | |
|
In office January 11, 2011 – May 12, 2015 |
|
| Vice President | Rex Lee Jim |
| Preceded by | Joe Shirley, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Russell Begaye |
| 5th Vice President of the Navajo Nation | |
|
In office January 9, 2007 – January 11, 2011 |
|
| President | Joe Shirley, Jr. |
| Preceded by | Frank Dayish, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Rex Lee Jim |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
July 6, 1947 Thoreau, New Mexico |
| Nationality |
 Navajo Nation and USA
|
| Spouse(s) | Martha Shelly |
| Residence | Thoreau, New Mexico |
| Occupation | Public service; retired small business owner |
| Religion | Christian Church |
Ben Shelly (born July 6, 1947) was the 7th one term President of the Navajo Nation. Shelly was the first President to have been elected both President and Vice President of the Navajo Nation. He is also the first New Mexican Navajo to hold the Navajo Presidency.
On November 2, 2010, Shelly was voted in as the Navajo Nation's President-elect during the 2010 Navajo Nation Presidential Elections, defeating opponent New Mexico State Senator Lynda Lovejoy of the Navajo Nation. On August 16, 2014 Shelly lost the Navajo Nation Primaries to former Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr and newcomer Christopher Deschene.
Shelly was born in Thoreau, New Mexico. He is Tó’aheedlíinii clan born for Tsʼah Yiskʼidnii. His maternal grandfather is Áshįįhí and his paternal grandfather is Táchiiʼnii.
Shelly's wife of 45 years, Martha Shelly, is originally from Coyote Canyon. She is Tábąąhá and born for Tódích’íiʼnii. They have five children and 10 grandchildren.
Shelly lived in Chicago for 16 years, training in heavy equipment maintenance and working as a supervisor for a heavy equipment company. Shelly moved back to the Navajo Nation in 1976, and owned a fleet maintenance and mechanic shop.
In 1990, Shelly was chairman of the Dineh Rights Association.
Shelly became the Thoreau Navajo Nation Councilman in 1991, and in 1993 he campaigned for legalized gambling in Navajo areas.
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Wikipedia