by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Oct 22/97) - It's Mayor Dave Lovell again - by a hair.

An administrative recount of municipal election results today confirmed a six-point victory - 1137 to 1131 - over Matthew Grogono.

At one time Monday night, Grogono was declared a winner by a five-vote margin. But his jubilation didn't last long.

News that his lead was the result of an error, that Dave Lovell had actually defended his seat with a six-vote win, reached Grogono and a handful of supporters at his election-night gathering about 10:10 p.m.

Nothing was said that would convey the instant and dramatic change of mood that followed the Lovell six-vote margin announcement. Nothing was said at all, until Grogono broke the silence. "Keep the faith," he said. "Don't sweat it."

At the same moment, Dave Lovell was at city hall.

"We were coming over here to verify it, and order a recount," Lovell told Grogono the next day at city hall. "Then we were going to your campaign to offer our congratulations."

A sense of the victory had been building in Grogono's camp. Forty minutes after a local radio station had declared the political newcomer the unofficial winner, Grogono's supporters learned of the reversal.

During that time, campaign volunteers spoke of the sweetness of victory. Calls of congratulation and requests for interviews streamed in over two cell phones. Hay River MLA Jane Groenewegen visited to personally offer her congratulations.

The meeting the next day was a follow-up to questions Grogono had about the way results were tabulated and announced the night before.

"I want to tell you, Matt, that was a good, clean campaign, and I'll have no sour grapes no matter how things fall out," said Lovell.

Grogono, who ordered a recount election night, didn't appear quite as magnanimous. When Lovell said he had no involvement in vote counting and announcement of results, Grogono started questioning him about recent hirings and departures at city hall.

Though his margin of victory, if it survives the recount, was far thinner this election, Lovell said he took it as a stronger indication of support than his 228-vote win over Robin Beaumont three years ago.

"What you had this time around was four people who were very much alike ideologically, and Matthew," said Lovell.

"Personally, I think a lot of votes Ruth (Spence) took would have been ones I would have got, though I wouldn't say that about the ones Vi (Beck) and John (Dalton) got."

Both men took different approaches to their campaigns.

Grogono sought the support of high-profile members of the community and Lovell did more door-to-door campaigning -- as many as 250 homes.

According to those gathered at Grogono's headquarters, the list of Grogono supporters included outspoken city hall critic Alex Debogorski, former city clerk Robin Beaumont, long-time businessman Mike Piro and former Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce president Gabriel Decorby.