BOS
Board of Supervisors Background
The Apache County Board of Supervisors is the governing body for the county. Each member represents one of the three supervisorial districts, which are divided geographically and by population. The Board meets at least every first and third Tuesday of each month at the Apache County Annex in St. Johns, Ariz.
Members are elected to four-year terms, and may serve an unlimited number of terms and must be residents of the district they represent. Board members elect a new chairman at their first meeting each year. The chairman conducts all formal and informal meetings, which are open to the public.
Public Meetings
Apache County Board of Supervisors' Hearing Room,
75 W. Cleveland Street, 1st Floor
St. Johns, AZ
Notices and Agendas
Regular and Special Apache County Board of Supervisors meeting notices and agendas are posted at least 24 hours prior to the meeting at the County Courthouse, County Annex Building in St. Johns Arizona and on the County's website.
BOS Member Biographies
Jim Claw, Chairman
Supervisor Claw was born in Chinle Valley, Arizona to Jones (a railroad worker who died when Jim was 12 years old) and Mary Ann Claw. He is the third of five children. “I remember we moved around a lot when I was little’ he said. ‘I think those early years spent off-reservation influenced my ability to get along with people of all races. Later years in boarding schools nine months a year helped forge my independence.”
He graduated from Chinle High School in 1964, College of Marin, Kentfield, California in 1968, and further pursued his education at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Jim and Marie, his wife of 40 years have two grown sons, Jimmy and Ryan and 5 grandchildren.
He took his first steps into public service in 1977 when he was elected to the governing board of the Chinle Unified Schools. He served 10 years and 7 ½ of those years as President of the Board. He also served four years as President of the Chinle Chapter Government. Among other civic duties he enjoyed were stints with Navajo Nation Employees’ Advisory Board, numerous youth support groups, and advocating for his community.
Mr. Claw was appointed Apache County District One Supervisor in January 2002 after serving seven years as District Manager. In 2004 he was elected to a full four-year term.
As appointee, he brought to the county a firm belief in cooperation and partnerships, which translates to getting more work done at less cost to those that perform similar work. By the first year of Supervisor Claw’s elected term, District One had successfully implemented a strategy to gain close working relations with the people, communities, chapter governments, state and federal entities.
Encouraged, District One continued to expand its roads program with formal road maintenance agreements with BIA and the Navajo Nation. It took the lead role in the successful establishment of a regional road maintenance partnership, the Dine’ Indian Roads Transportation Systems (DIRTS). DIRTS is comprised of the Navajo Dept. of Transportation (NDOT), northwest New Mexico counties of San Juan and McKinley, San Juan County-Utah and expressed interest by Coconino and Navajo counties. BIA agencies that were instrumental in the establishment of DIRTS were Western Navajo, Northern Navajo, and Ft. Defiance.
Local government-to-government arrangements provide added support for the partners to pool expertise and scarce resources. Consequently, improved road services for the traveling public and school transportation programs in northern Arizona.
“This year we broke new grounds by, for the first time in the history of District One, embarking on the use of magnesium-chloride for dust control and gravel on our roads,” he said.
Tom M. White, Jr., Vice Chairman
Tom M. White Jr., Apache County Supervisor, is currently serving his fourth four year term. Three County Supervisors represent Apache County as part of its governing body, the Board of Supervisors.
Supervisor White is a past Board Member for the National Association of Counties, he served on the board for the past eleven years. He is the former Chair of the Native American Affairs Sub-committee. White an active member of the Finance and Inter-Governmental Steering Committee, and the Rural Action Committee. White is an active member for the County Supervisors Association (Arizona), an active member to the Arizona Association of Counties. Supervisor White served as the Past-Chair of the Northern Arizona Council of Governments. He is the first Native American to be elected to the chairmanship. Supervisor White is a former Navajo Nation Council Member. While a Council member he served as the Vice Chair of the Human Services Committee, and Chaired the Veterans Sub-committee.
White has been involved with his community at many different aspects. Supervisor White was the Building and Grounds Director for the Window Rock Unified School District. As a Training Apprenticeship Coordinator for the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, White had envisioned bigger goals/accomplishments for himself as well as for his community. White served his country proudly as a United States Marine.
Supervisor White grew up in Ganado and graduated from Window Rock High School in 1973. He received an Associate Degree in Business Administration and Dine' Studies from the Navajo Community College in 1980. White attended Prescott Community College from 1994 to 1996; he was majoring in Secondary education until he got elected to his present position.
Tom is married to Pauletta Jean White. She is originally from Sawmill, Arizona. They have seven children and eight grandchildren.
As County Supervisor, White's goal is to gravel and apply magnesium chloride to 362.1 miles within District II. Presently 160 miles have been graveled and 126.9 miles have been applied with magnesium chloride.
R. John Lee, Member
John Lee was born and raised in St. Johns Arizona. He graduated from St. Johns High School in 1971. After his graduation he went on to the Arizona State University where he met and married his wife Daryl Smith Lee. Once he received his bachelors at ASU, they moved to Southern California where he attended Pepperdine University and earned his law degree. Being a country boy at heart they immediately returned to St. Johns to raise their six children: all along continuing to be more than active in his community. For the past 27 years he has practiced law in Apache County.
He has also been: Teacher/Youth Leader, past President of the local Kiwanis club (twice), Boy Scout leader for more than a decade, Little League Committee Official, Board Member of the Regional Chamber of Commerce (2 terms), Member of the State Bar since 1982, Pro Bono Attorney for area Hospice, and has decades of experience representing city government in Apache and Navajo Counties as City Attorney and Municipal Prosecutor.
"I believe in approachable government that is honest and fair. Our voice must be strong and resolute but still prepared to work with people of good will in a difficult environment. I have made hard decisions throughout my career and will represent District III aggressively. I will be vigilant in protecting our tax dollars and will work hard to keep Apache County fiscally sound and ready for a prosperous future."
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