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NWT - Municipal elections were held in eight NWT communities Dec. 8, although voter turnout was dismal for most communities.

Ray Ruben was re-elected as mayor of Paulatuk. Eight NWT communities went to the polls on Monday to elect municipal councils. - NNSL file photo

Six of the eight Beaufort Delta communities went to the polls, along with Fort Providence and Fort Resolution.

Among the communities with low voter turnout were Ulukhaktok with 39 per cent, Tuktoyaktuk with 30 per cent, and Fort Providence with just under 20 percent.

Paulatuk appeared to have a relatively high voter turnout compared with other NWT communities. The returning officer was unavailable for comment but according to 2006 census figures, about 85 percent of eligible voters cast a ballot.

Ray Ruben was re-elected as mayor by a wide margin over Frances Wolki in Paulatuk. Ruben had 72 per cent of the votes. Also elected to council were Keith Dodge, Herbert Nakimayak, Joseph Nakimayak, and Albert Ruben Sr.

In Aklavik, William "Billy" Storr beat out former Aklavik Indian Band chief Charlie Furlong and Robert Buckle for the mayoral crown. Storr will take over for former mayor Knute Hansen, who resigned a year early. The four councillors elected in Aklavik were Gordon Nixon, Eugene Pascal Michael McLeod, and Don Storr.

In Sachs Harbour, Yvonne Elias defeated incumbent Donna Keogak for mayor. All the councillors in Sachs were acclaimed.

Janet Kanayok soundly defeated Joseph Haluksit with almost twice as many votes to become mayor of Ulukhaktok.

The hamlet council in Ulukhaktok was acclaimed. Voters in Ulukahktok also elected their District Education Authority representatives, their Community Corporation directors and chair, and their Hunters' and Trappers' Committee.

Four council seats were up for grabs in Tuktoyaktuk. Billy Emaghok, Jean Gruben, Lena Kotokak, and Jim Stevens beat out five other candidates for those seats.

Fort McPherson decided to switch up its hamlet council by electing five new faces.

Peter James Vitrekwa, William Koe, Stanley Snowshoe, Ruby Koe and Mary Clark will now sit with returning councillors Richard Wilson and Richard James Blake.

In Fort Resolution, 13 candidates were competing for only four seats on council. Carol Ann Chaplin, Freda Elief, George Larocque and Brandie Mersch won the top spots.

Paschalina Nadli was acclaimed as mayor in Fort Providence. Raymond Bonnetrouge, Evelyn Krutko, Sophie Bonnetrouge, Edith Squirrel, Rosemary Minoza and Hilda Sabourin were elected.

The six new councillors join Alphonsine Gargan and Jonas Landry who are already on the council.

The hamlet holds staggered elections so that there's more continuity, said Susan Christie, the senior administrative officer for the hamlet.

The terms are normally two years with half of the eight councillors being replaced yearly. Six seats were available in this election because of two resignations. To keep the balance, the councillors with the lowest number of votes, Minoza and Sabourin will only serve one-year terms, said Christie.

--with files from Roxanna Thompson