SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
It almost looked as though Premier Bob McLeod, who represents Yellowknife South, might be acclaimed for the second time, until two challengers appeared at the eleventh hour.

Election signs have been a staple in Yellowknife since summertime. Now with the third of three elections underway, it won't be long before roadsides and street corners are finally back to normal. - James Goldie/NNSL photo

Nigit'stil Norbert, 30, one of the co-founders of Fracking Action North, said she had been considering a run for office and the thought of a second acclamation for McLeod was the push she needed to submit her nomination papers.

"When I saw that clock running down and there wasn't anyone running against Bob McLeod I was very strategic (in keeping) my nomination papers for the last day," she said.

The other candidate to throw his hat into the ring in Yellowknife South is Samuel Roland, 21, who is the general manager of Jiffy Lube and son of former premier Floyd Roland.

Like Norbert, he said he's not intimidated by the name recognition afforded to McLeod as a long-serving member of the legislative assembly.

"I was going to be the underdog no matter what riding I chose," said Roland. "When I saw Bob wasn't challenged yet I said, 'Let's give him a challenger.'"

McLeod told Yellowknifer he's not surprised to have people running against him this time around.

"I was fully expecting somebody or people would run against me," he said, adding that he prefers to have opposing candidates.

"The second time (running) I got acclaimed and everybody was accusing me of doing all kinds of things because I got acclaimed. I got in and nobody voted for me," he said.

Great Slave was another district with an incumbent who appeared to be heading toward acclamation until a last-minute candidacy was added to the list. Glen Abernethy - current minister of Health and Social Services and commencing his third run for office - said he is happy someone else put their name forward.

"I think it's important voters have a choice," he said. "I've seen acclamations in the past where ... I'm not sure what kind of input or feedback they had an opportunity to get from their residents or constituents."

Abernethy said even if he had been acclaimed, he was still planning to knock on every door in the riding of Great Slave.

His challenger, Chris Clarke, an architect and facility planner with the GNWT, filed his documents less than an hour before the nomination period closed. He acknowledged it is always a challenge going up against someone who has already held the seat, but he did not want the position to go unchallenged.

"That's not very democratic to not have somebody going against an individual," he said. "That's one of the things I love about my home ... that a regular person like me can do something like this. It's not something you could do in Edmonton or Toronto."

20 candidates confirmed in seven districts

Including the candidates in Yellowknife South and Great Slave, there are 20 confirmed candidates vying for seven Yellowknife seats. Some names will be familiar to readers - whether as incumbents, repeat candidates or prominent community figures - while others are newcomers to politics or lesser-known residents.

For the benefit of all, let's take a look at the names that will be appearing on our ballots in just under three weeks.

Frame Lake

In Frame Lake, four candidates are competing for the seat of outgoing MLA Wendy Bisaro. Roy Erasmus served as MLA for Yellowknife North from 1995-1999, and has worked as a lawyer and a senior manager of the GNWT in the 16 years since leaving office. Jan Fullerton is the executive director of Skills Canada NWT, a charity that promotes careers in skilled trades and technology for Northern youth. Kevin O'Reilly is the executive director of the Independent Environmental Monitoring Agency, a non-profit public watchdog for environmental management at the Ekati Diamond Mine and served on Yellowknife City Council from 1997 to 2006. David Wasylciw is self-employed as a policy consultant on technology in business.

Kam Lake

Less than two weeks after the federal election - during which he worked as the campaign manager for incoming Liberal MP Michael McLeod - Kieron Testart has entered a race of his own for a seat in the territory's legislative assembly representing Kam Lake.

Testart is challenging incumbent MLA Dave Ramsay, who was first elected in 2003. Ramsay is currently Minister of Justice and Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Range Lake

Caroline Cochrane faces off against incumbent Daryl Dolynny in Range Lake during this territorial election. Cochrane is the CEO of the Centre for Northern Families, which operates a daycare, a walk-in clinic, and an emergency shelter for women. Dolynny, who is seeking a second term in the legislative assembly, first moved to the territory in 1992 when he and his wife purchased the Yellowknife Shoppers Drug Mart franchise.

Yellowknife Centre

Yellowknife Centre is another district in which one political newcomer seeks to unseat an incumbent MLA. Julie Green, a former CBC journalist, has lived in Yellowknife for 15 years and is self-employed providing fundraising and communications services to non-profit organizations. She is up against Robert Hawkins, who is completing his third consecutive term as an MLA for Yellowknife Centre and is currently chair of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure.

Yellowknife North

The city's busiest electoral district is Yellowknife North with five candidates vying for the seat. Former Yellowknife city councillors Cory Vanthuyne and Dan Wong are both competing for this seat for which MLA Bob Bromley is not seeking re-election. Also vying for the position are Edwin Castillo, Ben Nind and Sean Erasmus. Castillo is the manager of financial planning at the NWT Housing Corporation; Nind is the former director of the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre and former constituency assistant to Dennis Bevington, who recently lost a bid for re-election as NDP MP. Erasmus did not respond to Yellowknifer's requests information by press time.

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