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Appeal Filed In Case Challenging Navajo Candidate

A former Navajo presidential hopeful who lost a bid to remove a candidate from the race is appealing the ruling.

An attorney for Myron McLaughlin filed the appeal Wednesday to the Navajo Supreme Court.

He's hoping to overturn a decision from the tribe's Office of Hearings and Appeals that kept Russell Begaye in the race.

McLaughlin says he disagrees with hearing officer Richie Nez's legal analysis and questions whether Nez had the right to preside over the case.

Repeated calls to the Office of Hearings and Appeals on Wednesday went unanswered.

Begaye is set to face former Navajo President Joe Shirley Jr. for the tribe's top elected post. The presidential contest was separated from the Nov. 4 general election after one candidate was disqualified for not meeting a Navajo fluency requirement.

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