City opts for change
Five new faces in legislative assembly from city districts; McLeod seeks second term as premier
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A trickle of territorial election results Monday evening grew into an upset for half of city incumbents, bucking a trend favouring those already in office.
Yellowknifers gathered Monday evening in the Great Hall of the legislative assembly to watch territorial election results come in on two television screens, including an interview with new Kam Lake MLA-elect Kieron Testart, who defeated incumbent David Ramsay. It was the first time the public was able to gather for such an event in the space since the 2007 election. - Shane Magee/NNSL photo
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There will be five new faces representing the city's eight electoral districts when the 18th legislative assembly meets, based on unofficial Elections NWT results.
Kieron Testart, Julie Green and Caroline Cochrane-Johnson toppled incumbents in city districts, with Cochrane's victory subject of one of four recounts underway across the territory. Green and Cochrane-Johnson were the only women elected across the territory.
"I'd say the clear message of wanting change and the 'same old' was not going to serve any longer," outgoing Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley said in the legislative assembly after results were known.
Yellowknife area MLAs returning to the assembly are Tom Beaulieu from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, Glen Abernethy from Great Slave and Bob McLeod from Yellowknife South. McLeod, who served as premier in the last assembly, told those celebrating at his election headquarters he intends to seek an unprecedented second term in the premier's office.
That decision is up to MLAs. Those newly elected are expected to have an orientation meeting next week. The following week, MLAs will gather to select a premier and cabinet by secret ballot.
In Frame Lake a close race saw environmentalist Kevin O'Reilly edge out three others in the district Wendy Bisaro held before announcing she wouldn't run again.
The new district of Yellowknife North, which includes Old Town, Niven and parts of downtown saw a close finish between two former city councillors.
Cory Vanthuyne, who had served as deputy mayor earlier this year, topped Dan
Wong by 16 votes. The thin margin forced a mandatory recount.
Bromley, a two-term MLA who also said he would not run this time, had represented most of the district previously.
Chris Clarke lost in Great Slave to Abernethy, who had served as health minister in the last government. Abernethy said he knocked on 1,384 doors in the campaign with the common theme being mental health and education.
"Most were pretty excited by the move to develop a mental health strategy in the Northwest Territories," Abernethy said. "That's gotta be a priority move for us, gotta be."
Turnout in electoral districts across the city was down from 2011 in all but Yellowknife Centre, with between 25 to 44 per cent of registered voters casting a ballot. Overall territorial turnout was 43.59 per cent.
It was a bad night for incumbents not just in the city but for several others across the territory. Jane Groenewegen and Michael Miltenberger, seeking unprecedented sixth terms, were defeated by Wally Schumann in Hay River South and Louis Sebert in Thebacha, respectively.
The speaker of the last assembly, Jackie Jacobson, lost by just four votes to Herbert Nakimayak in Nunakput. Three-term MLA Kevin Menicoche was defeated in Nahendeh by Shane Thompson. Daniel McNeely will be the new MLA for the Sahtu.
Rocky Simpson defeated incumbent Robert Bouchard in Hay River North.
Re-elected were Frederick Blake Jr. in Mackenzie Delta, Robert C. McLeod in Inuvik Twin Lakes, Alfred Moses in Inuvik Boot Lake and Michael Nadli in Deh Cho. Nadli was released from jail just days before the nomination period, allowing him to run again after a conviction for assault causing bodily harm.
Jackson Lafferty was acclaimed in Monfwi.
