Myron Lizer is an American politician and businessman and served as the 10th vice president of the Navajo Nation under President Jonathan Nez.[1]

Myron Lizer
10th Vice President of the Navajo Nation
In office
January 15, 2019 – January 10, 2023
PresidentJonathan Nez
Preceded byJonathan Nez
Succeeded byRichelle Montoya
Personal details
BornGanado, Arizona, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseDottie Lizer
EducationFort Lewis College (BBA)

Early life

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Lizer was born in Ganado, Arizona. He worked in various retail management positions before finishing his Bachelor of Business Administration from Fort Lewis College.[2] After graduation, he worked as an Accountant briefly before beginning his entrepreneurship.

Career

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Lizer owns an Ace Hardware in Window Rock, Arizona.[3] Lizer is a Baptist Christian and formerly served as the president of the school board for the Rehoboth Christian School in Rehoboth, New Mexico from 2016-23.[4] Lizer has also written articles for The Santa Fe New Mexican.[5] A Republican and social conservative, he was the running mate of Democrat Jonathan Nez in the 2018 tribal election, which they won with 66% of the vote.[6]

He is a supporter of former president Donald Trump and spoke at the 2020 Republican National Convention, highlighting Trump's achievements for tribal communities, particularly on the issues of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People and the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] He also joined Franklin Graham at the 2020 Prayer March in Washington D.C., praying for the country at the World War II Memorial.[8] In October 2020, he joined Donald Trump Jr., Carlyle Begay, and others in launching the Native Americans for Trump coalition in Williams, Arizona.[9][10]

Lizer announced in March 2022 that he would run for Arizona's 2nd congressional district in the 2022 election, but did not earn enough signatures to file.[11][12]

Personal life

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Lizer is half Navajo through his father's side and half Comanche through his mother's side;[13] he is of the Naałání (Comanche People Clan) born for Tó’áhání (Near The Water Clan), his maternal grandfather's clan is Naałání (Comanche People Clan), and paternal grandfather's clan is Tł’ááshchí’í (Red Cheek People).[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Navajo Nation official website, retrieved June 4, 2020.
  2. ^ "Alumnus sworn in as Navajo Nation's vice president". Fort Lewis College. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  3. ^ "Nez picks businessman as running mate". Navajo Times. September 4, 2018.
  4. ^ Becenti, Arlyssa (September 20, 2018). "Lizer surprised to be called 'controversial'". Navajo Times.
  5. ^ Lizer, Myron (October 15, 2021). "Our students need personal financial education". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  6. ^ Smith, Noel Lyn. "Nez names longtime business owner as vice president". Farmington Daily Times. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  7. ^ "Remarks by President Trump at Signing of an Executive Order Establishing the Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved November 26, 2019 – via National Archives.
  8. ^ "Prayer March 2020 with Franklin Graham". youtube.com. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  9. ^ Dominguez, Carina (October 15, 2020). "Donald Trump Jr. launches 'Natives for Trump'". Indian Country Today.
  10. ^ "Native Americans for Trump 2020". nativeamericans.donaldjtrump.com/. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  11. ^ "I'm announcing my candidacy in running for the newly redrawn U.S Congressional District 2 seat of Arizona. I pray that you will join me, as I pursue this journey". Twitter. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  12. ^ "Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer Announces He's Running For Congress". Great Circle Media. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  13. ^ "Nez names longtime business owner as vice president". Farmington Daily Times. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  14. ^ "About Us: Myron Lizer, Navajo Nation Vice President". www.opvp.navajo-nsn.gov/. Retrieved August 29, 2020.