Mark Maryboy

Mark Maryboy (born December 10, 1955) is a retired American politician and member of the Navajo Nation. He served as a County Commissioner in San Juan County, Utah for three terms and as a Council Delegate to the Navajo Nation Council representing the Utah Navajo Section.^[1][2]

Mark Maryboy
Mark Maryboy speaking at a community gathering in Utah
Navajo Nation Council Delegate
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Utah
In office January 1, 1991 – January 1, 2007
Succeeded by	Davis Filfred Jr.
Constituency	Aneth / Red Mesa / Mexican Water
Personal details
Born	(1955-12-10) December 10, 1955 (age 69) Bluff, Utah, United States
Nationality	Navajo Nation, American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Roselyn Maryboy
Education	University of Utah (BA)
Known for	First Native American elected as county commissioner in Utah

Biography

Maryboy was born near Bluff, Utah, and raised in a traditional Navajo Hogan on the Navajo Nation reservation.^[3] He attended BIA boarding schools in Kayenta and Aneth,^[4] and later graduated from San Juan High School in Blanding, Utah. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Utah in 1978.^[3]

After college, Maryboy returned to work with the Utah Navajo Development Council as director of education, overseeing programs including Head Start and vocational training.^[3]

In 1986, he was elected as the first Native American County Commissioner in Utah history, representing District Three in San Juan County.^[5] He was elected to the Navajo Nation Council in 1990, where he later chaired the Budget and Finance Committee.^{[citation needed]}

He also served on the advisory board of the College of Social and Behavioral Science at the University of Utah.^{[citation needed]} Maryboy was appointed to the Utah Advisory Committee of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in 1993,^[6] and later to the National Advisory Council on Indian Education by President Bill Clinton.^[7]

Incidents and controversies

In 2006, Speaker Lawrence T. Morgan was charged with battery after allegedly striking Maryboy during a Council session.^[8] The altercation reportedly stemmed from a procedural dispute during legislative discussions.^[8]

Utah Navajo Commission

Maryboy has been involved with the Utah Navajo Commission, which manages revenues from mineral development on Utah Navajo lands.^{[citation needed]} He has addressed issues concerning energy policy and resource management for Navajo communities in San Juan County.^{[citation needed]}

Water Rights

In 2002, the Utah Navajo Commission, with Maryboy’s support, advocated for reasserting tribal water rights to the Colorado River.^[9] The 2020 Utah Navajo Water Rights Settlement Act recognized the Navajo Nation’s rights to 81,500 acre-feet of water annually.^[10]

ExxonMobil Protest

In 1997, Maryboy joined local residents in a three-day protest against ExxonMobil at the McCalmon Oil Plant in Aneth, Utah.^[11] The protest focused on local hiring and working conditions for Navajo residents in the oil industry.^[12]

Later Work

In 1999, he co-founded Utah Navajo Health Systems with Donna Singer, supporting legislation to allow local retention of healthcare profits.^[13]