by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (June 04/97) - It may not have come as a surprise to many but for Ethel Blondin-Andrew, as for any electoral candidate, the sweetness of victory was a huge relief.

Though it was evident early on the Western Arctic was going to grant her a third consecutive term, Blondin-Andrew did not make her victory speech until almost three hours after the polls closed.

At the time she trailed in only one community -- Tsiigehtchic -- the only place she did not visit during the campaign.

When Blondin-Andrew did take the stage, it was to thank the 80 or so supporters who filled the Boston Pizza lounge.

"You can contract people's time and talent, but one thing you can't contract is friendship and loyalty," said a moist-eyed Blondin-Andrew, her husband Leon and father Joe at her side.

The loyalty went both ways during the campaign, said Blondin-Andrew, thanking Premier Don Morin for his support during her visit to Fort Resolution.

"He said, 'Ethel, if you go with me you're going to lose 18 votes.' I said, I don't care -- a friend is worth 18 votes."

Morin was not the only MLA who supported the bid for the Liberal three-peat.

On hand to witness the victory along with other party supporters were NWT cabinet ministers John Todd, Charles Dent, Jim Antoine and Kelvin Ng, as well as ordinary members Jake Ootes, Mike Miltenberger and Roy Erasmus.

Miltenberger, MLA for Thebacha, like many Northerners, was more concerned about the candidate than the party.

"I've supported Ethel from the git-go," noted Miltenberger, adding he grew up with her, attending the same residential school.

"I like many things the Liberals do, but Ethel's the reason I got behind the party."

Though sparks flew between Blondin-Andrew and her four opponents during the campaign, all was forgiven election eve.

"When you run for office you put everything on the line -- we had words during the campaign, but they gave me a run for my money and I respect them for that."

Blondin-Andrew offered special congratulations to her "coach," campaign manager Lynda Sorensen.

Manager of all three campaigns, Sorensen recalled Blondin-Andrew first stepped onto the federal stage in an election which the Tories formed the government. The second campaign win was spurred by a nation-wide rejection of the same government.

"This time people were saying we're going to stick with the Liberals so they can finish the job. We heard a lot of that in Yellowknife and Hay River."

Wayne Walsh, who works as Blondin-Andrew's special assistant for the North, said Northerners will be the ultimate beneficiaries of this campaign.

"Continuity is important. I think the fact that the government is back in power is going to have a positive influence on the North," he said.