Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Sep 17/99) - They're at the gate...and, they're off!

Officially under way with the closing of nominations Wednesday, the municipal byelection campaign is an eight-horse race.

The last day of nominations, Wednesday, was a busy one at the city hall elections office, with four candidates registering for the municipal race and another three for the open seat on the public school board.

In the running for city council are Bruce Coomber, John Dalton, Terry King, Rachel Lawless, Dave McCann, Garth Wallbridge, Fraser Weir and Alan Woytuik.

For the two winners of the municipal race, the immediate reward will be immersion in the exhaustive line-by-line analysis and debate of the 2000 city budget.

The economy, specifically property taxes and the precarious state of Giant mine, is a big issue for many of the candidates according to initial interviews.

Though a venue has yet to be secured at press time, the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce is attempting to organize an all-candidates' forum.

The election was called to shore up council ranks following the resignations of councillors Peggy Near and Dave Ramsay. The present term officially runs until November 2000, though the next general election will take place a month earlier.

The candidates:

Bruce Coomber

Occupation: Executive director for St. John Ambulance (NWT and Nunavut)

Years in city: Five (from 1991-93, returned last year)

Background: Served on boards of directors of Sport North, Ecology North. Taught in Cambridge Bay for seven years and in Pelly Bay for two. Developed and delivered training programs for municipal councils on such subjects as conflict of interest, financial management, use of committees.

Quote: "I wouldn't say there's a carefree attitude, but there needs to be some fiscal restraint. I can add a measure of that."

Rachel Lawless

Occupation: Dentist

Years in city: Eight

Background: First campaign for public office. Served on Department of Health and Social Services advisory board for redrafting of health policies, focusing on those dealing with dental health. Serves on territorial dental licensing committee. Born in England.

Quote: "We have to find more ways of occupying youth. There are some good things in place, but it would be lovely to see more."

Terry King

Occupation: Airport security agent

Years in city: 3.5

Background: Personnel manager for 30 years. Involved in construction of hydro electric dam construction at James Bay and Labrador. Lived in Iqaluit for four years before moving to Yellowknife. Member of Yellowknife Legion executive. Raised in Brantford, Ont.

Quote: "We're sitting in one of God's greatest gifts for the world. This is a beautiful place to be."

Dave McCann

Occupation: Consultant

Years in city: 25

Background: Urban planner by trade, worked for territorial government and Housing Corporation. Unsuccessful bid for MLA (Yellowknife Frame Lake) in last territorial election. Former president of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce.

Quote: "We need to address the fact that the cost of living is running 35 per cent over the city of Edmonton and the impact that has on the city's ability to attract residents and new business."

Fraser Weir

Occupation: Policy analyst, GNWT Department of Transportation

Years in city: 26

Background: First election campaign. Critic of city attempts to regulate houseboaters. Executive member of Friends of Democracy, the group that launched a successful court challenge of the territorial government's decision on electoral boundaries.

Quote: "We have to realign the city's finances, virtually discounting taxes of the gold industry."

Garth Wallbridge

Occupation: Lawyer

Years in city: 19

Background: Former president of Metis Local 66. Served a year on board of Yellowknife Education District No. 1. In 1993-94 was team leader of the Metis policy team for the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.

Quote: "It's time for some new ideas in terms of how we can make this a more economically viable place."

John Dalton

Occupation: Cab owner/driver

Years in city: 27

Background: Unsuccessful bid to become mayor in the last municipal election. Served five years as a city alderman. Former member of Stanton Yellowknife Hospital Board, Catholic school board, chairman of Northern Arts and Cultural Centre.

Quote: "The people going in will have to be able to jump in (to the budget process) right away ... that's the advantage I will have. I can challenge immediately and effectively based on knowing the process."

Alan Woytuik

Occupation: Maintenance supervisor for Catholic school board, currently on year's deferred salary leave

Years in city: 17

Background: First election campaign. Proposes that the year's deferred leave, just begun, will allow him to devote more time to council.

Quote: "Council has to realize that the general feeling out there is we're going through a tough time and we need to exercise some fiscal restraint. I fully support the chamber's request for a reduced taxation."