by Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

RANIN INLET (Dec 10/97) - Paul Kaludjak won a second term as president of the Kivalliq Inuit Association in Monday's election, and will lead the group through the final months leading up to the creation of Nunavut.

More than half of all eligible Keewatin voters turned out at the polls to elect leaders for the region.

Kaludjak took nearly 50 per cent of the vote (unofficial results indicated 47.7 per cent or 1,026 votes) while Louis Pilakapsi came second with 30 per cent or 663 votes.

Mike Gibbons followed with 20 per cent or 462 votes.

Incumbents in other races didn't fare as well. Baker Lake, for one, has a new mayor. David Tagoona defeated outgoing mayor William Noah 48 to 26 per cent.

The four councillors elected were Jacob Ikinilik, Thomas Iksirak, Leo Lareau and Frank Tootoo.

Hamlet councillors were also elected across the Keewatin. In Repulse Bay, Martha Milortok, Marcel Mapsalok, Sata Kidlapik and John Kounak were elected.

In Whale Cove, Eva Angoo, Gerard Maktar, Lucy Adjuk, Jack Angoo, Simon Enuapik and Louis Oklaga won voter approval.

Arviat saw four new councillors elected. Acclaimed were Luke Suluk, Mary Kalluak, Joshua Curley, Tommy Owujoot and Rosalie Sinnisiak.

Rankin Inlet has five new councillors. Dawson Milley leads the 16 candidates with 353 votes and Louis Pilakapsi a close second with 332 votes. Ryan St. John took 315, Harry Towtongie seizing 258, and Simon Okpatauyak 250.

Simon Okpatauyak was elected for a one-year term while the rest were elected for two years.

Johnny Ningeongan was re-elected mayor of Coral Harbour, defeating Noel Kaludjak and Willie Nakoolak.

Councillors elected include Marvin Dion, Leonie Duffy, Noel Kaludjak, Mary Matoo and Douglas Nakoolak. Elected in Chesterfield Inlet were Marc Ippiak, Casimir Kriterdluk, George Tanuyak and Pierre Tautu.

Harry Towtongie was also elected KIA Rankin Inlet director, out-polling seven other candidates.

Among the others elected for KIA regional directors are Paul Kablutsiak in Arviat, Edwin Evo in Baker Lake, Joe Issaluk in Chesterfield Inlet, and Erksuktok Eatuk in Coral Harbour.

Unlike other positions, the race for KIA secretary-treasurer was a close one with Robert Seeteenak, who received 52 per cent of the vote, beating Annie Tattuinee, who received 48 per cent. Rankin Inlet residents rejected a prohibition 151-proof alcohol and setting up a liquor education committee.

Fifty-seven per cent voted to stop the sale of the 151-proof and 49 per cent voted to set up an alcohol education committee, both just shy of the 60 per cent needed to make it carry through.