Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jul 24/98) - If you want the mayor to resign, the Yellowknife Property Owners Association wants your signature.

The association is circulating a petition that reads: "We petition for the resignation of Mayor (Dave) Lovell for incompetence regarding the handling of: Dairy Queen, secret meetings court case, Tuaro Dairy, twin pad arena, Doug Lagore at court and the Niven Lake development."

Lovell said he's tiring of the squabbling over leadership.

"I have absolutely no intention of resigning," said the mayor. "I've was elected to office fairly, I've tried to serve honestly and as best I can."

Lovell said he thought it unfair of those who lose mayoral races to continue hounding the person they lost to.

Association president Matthew Grogono lost to Lovell by seven votes in last year's election.

Grogono said the petition was meant to gauge public opinion of the mayor. "We're not demanding the mayor's resignation," he said. "We're asking how many people out there want it."

There is no recall legislation, though a city resolution supporting one was approved recently by the NWT Association of Municipalities.

Grogono said the association's board voted to create the petition earlier this week. He added that many people he's spoken to have little regard for the mayor.

Grogono said the association will be distributing the petition, upon request, to anyone who wishes to sign it.