Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Dec 08/99) - "It's a new North!"

That was the message Bill Braden delivered in euphoric tones to his equally euphoric campaign team following a decisive win in the newly-created riding of Great Slave.

"It feels very good, it feels huge," said Braden of the win in his first election campaign. "I've been thinking about doing something like this for so long."

In a speech following announcement of the results, Braden said the opportunity for change in a post-division NWT was what motivated him to run in this election.

He called for a new level of co-operation with the federal government -- "not bashing and having fun in the headlines with how we can beat Ottawa up."

Braden, 45, said he wanted to see a territorial cabinet appointed by the premier instead of elected by MLAs, more transparency and accountability in government, and a cabinet bound by the "qualities of unity, loyalty and discipline."

It may be a new North, but campaigning and politics are not new to the Braden family, which has called Yellowknife home for the last 35 years.

"We went through this 20 years ago with George," noted Bill's mom, Esther Braden, referring to Bill's older brother. George Braden was elected in 1979 and went on to serve as government leader.

Bill Braden also covered territorial and federal elections as a reporter for News/North and the Yellowknifer.

He resigned his job as director of corporate development for the NWT Power Corporation to run in this election.

In an aside, one Braden supporter noted, "There is a very significant difference here -- George was a Conservative and Bill is a Liberal." Though Braden collected 36 per cent of votes cast in his riding, only eight votes separated the next three candidates.