NNSL (June 04 /97) -New Democrat Mary Beth Levan doesn't count the NDP's second-place showing Monday night as a loss but a new beginning for the party in the North.

"I enjoyed going out to the communities and meeting the people," a relieved but disappointed Levan said after the numbers clearly showed a Liberal victory.

"The NDP showed during this campaign that we are the party that works for all -- the youth, the elders and women."

The NDP pulled in more than 2,500 votes, more than double its 1993 showing.

Earlier in the evening, two Levan supporters, Jarrod Klinger and Crystal Dichau, both 14, expressed their strong and lasting admiration for Levan by providing free babysitting services for parents who wanted to vote.

After the polls closed, a youthful group of Levan supporters, many too young to vote, showed up to watch the results.

When it was apparent Levan had lost to Liberal incumbent Ethel Blondin-Andrew, a dejected Klinger said, "I think she (Levan) deserved to win."

His friend, Phillip Cheesman, 14, agreed: "She should've won, she worked so hard.

Referring to the winner and those who voted Liberal, Cheesman said, "I don't understand these people ... the rich voters thought they should stay rich. They're hurting those who are earning 20 grand or less a year."

"Because we can't vote they think we don't matter," Klinger suggested. "They promise us everything and when they get into office they let us down."

Before leaving, Klinger, Cheesman and Hache had already committed themselves to the NDP and Mary Beth Levan in the next election, when they'll be old enough to vote.

Said Klinger, "I'll be back here volunteering and I'm voting NDP."

Reform holds 1993 line

Mike Watt was almost like the lonely Maytag repairman sitting in his Reform Party campaign headquarters Monday night, waiting for the votes to come in.

Aside from his staff of two and his wife, Watt had six people with him glued to the television.

Two left and two more came in by 10 p.m. A few reporters popped in and out.

As the night wore on, it became apparent he hadn't won. But when the votes were tallied, Reform brought in a 1,964 votes, just shy of the 2,000 the party garnered in 1993.

Watt attributes his loss, at least in part, to a tight campaign budget and having just a handful of supporters.

Where the Liberals had budgeted $100,000 for the campaign in the Western Arctic, Watt had about $2,000 in donations and has dug into his own pocket for a few thousand more, mainly for charter air flights.

He didn't even have any election placards up until five wooden signs were made a few days before the election.

It was tough foot-slogging too.

"We went door to door. You should see the blisters on my feet. I haven't walked so much. I always take the truck because there's no place to walk in Wrigley."

And he's not sure if he'll try it again next time.

"I don't know. At least I would know what to expect. Unfortunately as it is, it's not a poor man's game. You need big bucks to compete. If Mary Levan was on a shoestring, we were on the eyelet."

Watt said he was pleased with the Reform Party's national performance and is happy to think he had done something to enhance the Reform's image and bring their message a little closer to the people.

Tories vow to return

"It's certainly disappointing at this point," said Progressive Conservative candidate Bob Dowdall, Monday night after his defeat became apparent.

He received about 1,687 votes, putting him fourth of five candidates.

But as disappointed as he was, Dowdall said he and his party is not prepared to simply roll over and die. "Ethel will have to keep her head up. We'll be back," he said.

And his campaign, which lasted almost five weeks, wasn't a complete loss.

"I enjoyed getting out there and meeting the people and I enjoyed the debates," he said. "It was a special experience that not everybody gets."

Dowdall admits that it was an uphill battle from the beginning. "It was the time that killed us," he said. "It was four weeks of solid stress. More time would have given us more opportunity to get my name out there."

Dowdall has no regrets and claims that he will run again in four years if the PC Party will have him.

Firth shifts focus to NWT politics

True to his candidacy as an Independent, Wally Firth sat alone on election night at his Fort McPherson residence, watching the results on TV roll in.

"Naturally, I'm quite disappointed by the result," said Firth. "I expected to do better."

Running as an independent created two problems for Firth during the campaign: lack of money, and concerns by voters that an independent MP would have little voice alone in Ottawa. "People kept asking me who are you running for?" said Firth. "They didn't understand I was running for the people, and no one else."

Firth said he didn't have the money to tour across the North to explain his case. "I was a one-man show with no money, but I did the best I can," he said. Firth estimates he spent close to $10,000.

Firth's dream of establishing a home-grown independent party -- the Northern Party -- will continue, he said. He hopes to have an association and candidates lined up in time for the next election.