Yellowknifers made it clear Monday night that experience on city council wasn't a priority when it came to their choice for mayor. Gord Van Tighem, a virtual unknown on the political scene, led the way in all but one of seven polls.
Yellowknife (Oct 18/00) - Turning a profit on the city's investment in the Niven Lake subdivision is at the top of Gordon Van Tighem's action list.
"We have a significant investment there and I think we should actively pursue getting some lots sold," Van Tighem said Tuesday, after winning the job as Yellowknife's mayor for the next three years.
 Ousted mayor Dave Lovell (left) visited Van Tighem's campaign headquarters to congratulate the new mayor. |
After an evening of celebrating his victory, the mayor-elect was in his office at the NWT Community Mobilization Partnership where he has served as executive director for the last year.
"Right now I want to recuperate from a hard-fought campaign, but I'm booked up every evening for the next two weeks meeting with all the people I spent time wooing," he said. Van Tighem plans to meet with members of the new council and senior city administrators "to determine their aspirations." He said he wants to hear more from the public on what can be done to develop Old Town and the extensive waterfront.
"I want to hear more from the community," he said. The message from the community Monday night was that they want him for mayor.
Van Tighem beat runner up Bob Brooks by a modest 1,555 to 1,355 margin.
"I'm excited and awestruck," Van Tighem told Yellowknifer after the official numbers were released to cheers from supporters at his campaign headquarters in Frame Lake South.
Van Tighem leaned against a doorway most of the night, moving only to field calls on a cell phone and to conduct interviews. He said nervousness didn't kick in until after the first two polls trickled in.
"I was more relieved after the third poll," said Van Tighem. "When the first two showed we were leading I was nervous."
Campaign manager Jamey Coughlin said he was retiring after managing his first political campaign to victory.
"I'm exhausted, we've worked so hard," saiid Coughlin, "it was all Van Tighem."
Around 200 volunteers powered the campaign that cost an estimated $13,000.
"A lot of the money came from small cheques," said Coughlin, "It's going to take me two weeks to write all the thank-you letters."
Van Tighem has lived in Yellowknife for nine years. He was the territorial manager for the Bank of Montreal for eight years and retired last year. During a victory party in the Prospector restaurant in Old Town, Van Tighem said he thought he would win.
"You can't enter something you're going to lose," said Van Tighem as his daughter Colleen rushed to give him a hug.
Van Tighem's wife Carol said she was exhausted but couldn't hide her jubilation.
"I'm very, very pleased," she said, "It's so much fun and exciting."
Graham Van Tighem put a wilderness guiding job on hold in Whitehorse, Yukon, to campaign with his father.
Van Tighem's other son, Chris, lives in Saskatchewan.
Ousted mayor Dave Lovell visited Van Tighem's campaign headquarters to congratulate the new mayor.
"We agreed to have breakfast soon," said Lovell.
"I'm going to make sure it's a great transition," added Lovell as he shook hands with Van Tighem.
Van Tighem drew votes from a broad spectrum of Yellowknifers. One long-time Northern businessman Peter Guther, flew in from Norman Wells to show his support.
It was in 1992 when no one would touch Guther's construction company that Van Tighem, then the bank manager of the Bank of Montreal, flew to Norman Wells to assess Guther's chances for a loan. Forty-eight hours later Guther received over $1 million.
"Since I've paid it back we've become friends," Guther said. "Gord's an avid hunter, I've hunted with him. The man is absolutely in tune with what is happening in the NWT."
