Arviat Mayor Bob Leonard wins fourth election
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
ARVIAT
Bob Leonard fended off two challengers to earn his fourth-straight term as Arviat mayor during the municipal elections on Dec. 12.
Bob Leonard was reelected for a fourth term as Arviat mayor on Dec. 12. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo |
Leonard said he found this election quite different than the previous one, with only three candidates this time out as compared to eight last time around.
He said he was fairly confident heading into the race, with a solid track record and people encouraging him to seek another term.
"I heard a lot of positive stuff from people, but, sometimes a number of people who hope you're going to win don't go vote," said Leonard.
"So, you have to worry about that a little bit."
Leonard said he sought a fourth term because there's sill work to do in Arviat. "There's still plenty to do," he said. "We're still working on recreation programming, our sports park, youth drop-in services and stuff like that."
Top of the list is creating more jobs for the community. "I'm expecting the Meliadine gold project in Rankin Inlet to come on stream, so we'll be doing a lot more training in 2017 to have people ready for jobs ... I'm most proud of the work we're doing with Agnico Eagle to create employment opportunities for people. I believe we're the only hamlet involved with this many training programs, primarily for our young people," he said.
"We're on trucked water and our service is the best it can be, our roads are in pretty good shape, and our hamlet workforce is well-trained with a good feeling toward the workplace."
But he said the hamlet does have to look at changing the way it does some things. For example, the number of polar bears spotted in Arviat. While he said this was a result of climate change, he was quick to point out actions the hamlet could be taking. "I don't know what all the answers are, but we're going to have to look at the way we handle garbage," he said. "There's definitely work to be done in that area, whatever the answers are, before somebody gets hurt."
He looks at the election as a springboard, to rejuvenate the community to move forward.
"I'm proud of a lot of the stuff we've done during my first three terms as mayor," said Leonard.
What keeps him going is that connection to the people he serves. "When you're mayor you can help people right now, today, often instantly. And, you're in touch with everybody because you're here every day," he said.
Leonard said he still has no desire to run for the territorial government.
"I love being mayor and I have no desire to be an MLA, at all."
