Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Jan 11/06) - Nunavut politicians may want to read up a bit on the power of reverse psychology following the results of the municipal election in Rankin Inlet this past month.

Ron Roach was having second thoughts about his candidacy as the election neared because he feared he may be spreading himself a little too thin.

Roach is also a board member for the Qulliq Energy Corp., as well as the Nunavut Planning Commission.

He said the two positions combined require a minimum of eight weeks a year travel time.

"You have to attend a minimum of four meetings a year for each board, plus other activities sometimes crop up that you have to go to," said Roach.

"There's also the usual conference calls and e-mails you receive to keep you up to date with everything the two boards have going on.

"The energy board averages about three or four conference calls a year on top of the scheduled meetings, so it can be quite time consuming."

When Roach learned he was appointed to the planning commission board, he phoned hamlet SAO John Hodgson to have his name removed from the municipal ballot.

He was told the voting list was already prepared and the deadline to withdraw from the race had passed.

Roach let it be known that if he was elected to council he would seriously consider resigning the position, and asked voters to consider that before marking their ballots.

He said he was quite thankful to the people for showing confidence in him and making it clear they wanted him to remain on council.

"I didn't expect to get re-elected, especially when I was asking people to do the opposite.

"Once re-elected, I really had no choice but to stay on because if that many people were good enough to vote for me, I can, at least, return the favour by staying on and doing the best job I can."

Roach, a former hamlet SAO, is generally regarded as one of the hamlet's more outspoken councillors.

He acknowledged the fact his straight-forward approach proved to be popular among voters this time around.

"I don't believe in beating around the bush.

"I speak my true feelings on issues and I'm not too concerned about what people think about it.

"Nothing I say as a councillor is meant to be personal.

"It's all for the betterment of the community."