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DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
Residents of Fort Providence will have a choice between two first cousins when they vote for the new mayor of their hamlet.

Incumbent Tina Gargan and Eric Gargan will face off on the ballots on Dec. 10.

There are considerably more options for the six positions on the hamlet council. Fourteen people have put their names forward, including two incumbents.

The four candidates with the most votes will receive three-year terms. The candidates who rank in fifth and sixth place will have one-year terms, finishing the final year of two seats that were vacated on the council.

The three-year terms for the mayor and four councillors are a year longer than previous terms. The outgoing council voted to increase the term from two to three years.

Deh Cho Drum asked Tina and Eric the same set of questions for this article about their relevant experience, the pressing issues the hamlet is facing and their goals for Fort Providence.

Eric Gargan

Concern for youth is behind Eric Gargan's candidacy for the position of mayor of Fort Providence.

"The main thing for me right now is to get a youth centre built," he said.

"Kids don't know what to do, they are wandering the streets," he said.

The community needs to be concerned about youth and start working with them, he said. A youth centre would help because many youths don't have anywhere to go and a centre would give them a location to hang out, said Eric.

If elected, Eric would ask Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli for his assistance with tackling this project and with getting a working swimming pool for the community.

This is Eric's first foray into municipal politics in Fort Providence. He previously served as a hamlet councillor in Whati from 1991 to 1992.

Eric said he would bring communication and interpersonal skills to the role of mayor. In Whati, people felt comfortable coming to me with concerns, he said.

A sense of action is something Eric also has to offer.

"When I speak, I want things done," he said.

One area Eric would like to see addressed immediately is the dog issue in the hamlet. A few times people have almost been bitten, he said.

If elected Eric plans to enact stronger dog bylaws and hire a specialized dog officer to enforce them.

The opening of the Deh Cho Bridge is also an area of concern.

"I know there's going to be lots of changes once that bridge opens," he said.

Eric said he would work with the RCMP to address issues that may arise from the bridge opening, including drug trafficking into the hamlet.

Other issues that Eric said residents are concerned about include alcohol and drug use, especially among youth, job creation and improper snowmobile usage.

Improving hamlet facilities is part of Eric's goal for Fort Providence. In addition to a youth centre and functioning swimming pool, Eric would also like to get a library, more heavy equipment so the hamlet can do its own road maintenance and a larger hamlet garage with more tools.

Eric owns Gochia's Taxi and Express Service, a business that he says keeps him plugged into residents' concerns. He has two daughters and a granddaughter.

"If people want changes in the community, vote for me."

Tina Gargan

Continuity is one of the reasons Tina Gargan has put her name forward again for the position of mayor.

"I'd like to see existing projects completed," Tina said.

"I have a lot of experience and I am comfortable and proud in representing Fort Providence in the capacity of mayor in and outside of the community."

Tina has 15 years of experience in municipal governance in Fort Providence including serving as a hamlet councillor, deputy mayor and mayor. Her two terms as mayor were from January 2006 to December 2007 and December 2011 to the present.

The community pool is one of the projects Tina wants to see to completion. The pool was closed for two summers, but work is underway to reopen it. The target completion date is this June, she said.

Another community concern that Tina wants to continue working on is dog control. The hamlet has sponsored clinics to have dogs spayed and neutered, but is also looking for other solutions.

"We are open to suggestions," she said.

Tina's goals for the hamlet include continuing to work on the hamlet's integrated community sustainability plan, a document that she says is continually evolving, and to stay focused on the mission statement that was developed by the hamlet council.

In addition to 15 years of municipal experience, Tina said she will also bring with her the experience she's gained with the other organization she serves with, including the NWT Association of Communities, the Status of Women Council of the NWT, of which she is the president, and the Judicial Committee of the NWT. Tina is also proud of being a parent of two children, of being sober for 13 years and of managing a mortgage on her home.

"I'm honest, I promise only what I can deliver," said Tina.

"I'm approachable, I'm a people person."

Tina said she has good communication and listening skills as well as the ability to inspire others to get involved.

Other issues that Tina said are of concern to Fort Providence residents include ongoing social issues, creating employment opportunities and supporting students to continue their education outside of the community. There has to be a focus on youth, she said.

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