by Jeff Colbourne and Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Oct 22/97) - As well-wishers wandered into Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce election headquarters at the Centre Square Mall to track Monday's mayoral and aldermanic races, alderman hopeful Blake Lyons was out wandering the streets.

Once the polls closed, he said it was time to take down his election signs.

Reached at home at midnight, Lyons, who finished sixth in the race for a seat on council with 1,435 votes, said he was tired. Not from sweating out the results as they rolled in, but from hauling down the signs.

"I like to set an example," he said.

For Lyons, it was his fifth win -- he's five for five in aldermanic races. He first ran in 1987 when it was just a ten-month term.

"I have wonderful people helping...and it doesn't hurt to be Irish," he said.

Nor does it hurt if you've won on Jeopardy, said winner Robert Slaven.

He amassed more than $63,000 on the TV game show, and racked up the second-highest vote count with 1,819 supporters.

Of his win, he said he was "pleasantly surprised" to have placed "this high so fast."

Candidate Peggy Near, who attracted 1,545 votes to finish fifth, said the results showed "people wanted a change."

Near added she was optimistic early on about her chances. The consulting company owner had a strong start in the advance polls.

But it was far from a sure thing for Ben McDonald.The union supporter said it was "tense to be eighth."

The alderman's slate held 16 names vying for eight spots.

McDonald has placed ninth twice and Monday's win evens his alderman record at two and two.

Dave Ramsay, who made his face known during the last territorial election, came away with a majority of the votes.

"I thought I'd be close to the top," said Ramsay, glowing as the final poll came in.

"It tells me the people of Yellowknife have confidence in me, faith in me. And I won't let them down."

Ramsay, who was fresh out of university with a political science degree two years ago, ran against Jake Ootes in Yellowknife Centre and lost by a small margin.

"I'm determined," said Ramsay. "I'm determined to make Yellowknife a better place to live."

Cheryl Best also came away a winner Monday night, clinching 1,577 votes.

"I'm thrilled with the results. I think the people of Yellowknife are looking for a strong, common-sense council," said Best.

Best, executive director of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, plans to mend fences now and improve relations with city council.

"I feel that this council has a mandate to speak to and listen to the people and to look to the future of our city and the growth that we really deserve and expect based on the diamond mine development and the division of the territories," she said.

Kevin O'Reilly, who came away with 1,390 votes, hopes to make council and the city a friendlier place.

"It is a strong vote for change, a change in the way things are done," said O'Reilly Monday night.

"I certainly will work with council to make sure the public is made welcome at city hall."

O'Reilly plans to do away with secret briefings and take a closer look at the proposed twin-pad arena. Bob Brooks was also elected alderman with a total of 1,672 votes.

"It's great. But what I'm most happy about is I see a lot of workers in there," he said, of the seven others elected to aldermen positions.

"There's a lot of work we have to do over the next few years."

"This is the most important time in our history," he said.