Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Providence (Dec 10/99) - After four terms and 14 years as the incumbent MLA, Sam Gargan was defeated by Fort Providence Mayor Michael McLeod in the Deh Cho riding Monday.

"I'm still in a little bit of shock," McLeod said from his home soon after the news came in Monday night. "It doesn't really hit home until it's done."

The final tally was 382-228 in McLeod's favour. He won the polls in Fort Providence and Enterprise while Gargan prevailed in Enterprise and on the Hay River Reserve, although only by a few votes in the latter.

McLeod said he felt his strength lied in sticking to "home-grown issues," such as jobs, housing and language.

"Those are the issues that affect the people," he said. "If you don't have a job and you don't have a good place to live, it's pretty tough to be dealing with other things."

As mayor, McLeod said he felt he was in touch with the issues. He has to give up his mayoral seat -- hamlet council is seeking legal advice to try to keep him in the position until he's sworn in as MLA -- but he said he feels he can do more good for the community and the region as MLA.

"That's one of the reasons I ran. I can do a lot more for everybody at a more senior level than I could here. I was a little bit frustrated (as mayor)," he said. "I couldn't sit on the sidelines and complain, I had to try and do something."

Before he officially takes office as MLA, McLeod said he plans to visit the communities one more time to feel assured he has his mandate and priorities straight. Whether or not he can accomplish his objectives will determine if he's interested in becoming a long-term politician, as Gargan was before him.

"I stated it when I went around that if I was to run again I would want to be measured by what I've done such as the unemployment rates," he said. "Everything that I stated I believe I can achieve."

Although he'll be a rookie MLA, he noted that he's not ruling out a cabinet position.

However, he said he'd have to think it over because it would entail moving to Yellowknife, and he'd be reluctant to uproot his children and be away from his parents in Fort Providence. He is sure that he doesn't want to assume Gargan's legacy as Speaker of the house, though.

"I got that message loud and clear from the communities," he said.

Gargan couldn't be reached for comment.

Michael Nadli, Grand Chief of the Deh Cho First Nations (DCFN) extended congratulations to McLeod and Nahendeh MLA Jim Antoine. In a press release, Nadli stated he expects the Deh Cho Process will become an important agenda item for the territorial government.

"We believe that work needs to be done to clarify the role of the GNWT, if any, in the Deh Cho process in the new year," Nadli said.