Navajo Nation presidential candidate Linda Lovejoy was booted from an energy right-of-way meeting because she is not a tribal government official, The Gallup Independent reports.

Lovejoy made a statement in opposition to the report recently completed by the Interior Department and the Energy Department. But she left after an attorney for the tribe questioned her presence as a non-governmental official.

The meeting was held in Albuquerque and was billed as both a public meeting and a tribal consultation session. The Federal Register notice stated that the "government-to- government meetings will allow for consultation between tribal representatives and federal officials," but does not state who can or cannot represent a tribe.

Lovejoy is the first woman presidential candidate. She is running against incumbent Joe Shirley Jr., who did not attend the meeting but sent other representatives.

Get the Story:
Lovejoy booted out of meeting (The Gallup Independent 8/31)
Shirley Jr. campaign expresses confidence (The Gallup Independent 8/31)

Federal Register Notice:
Energy Policy Act of 2005, Section 1813, Draft Report to Congress (August 9, 2006)

Rights-of-Way Report:
Draft Report to Congress: Energy Policy Act of 2005, Section 1813 Indian Land Rights-of-Way Study | Appendix: Historic Rates of Compensation for Rights-of-Way Crossing Indian Lands, 1948-2006 National Energy Bill:
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (H.R.6)

Relevant Links:
Council of Energy Resource Tribes - http://www.certredearth.com
Energy Policy Act Section 1813 - http://1813.anl.gov
Department of Energy - http://www.energy.gov

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