Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 18/00) - It was a close one, but Wendy Bisaro came out on top in the race for city council in Monday's election.

Bisaro, who spent Monday night running back and forth between city hall and her home, was blown away when it became apparant that she was leading the race.

"I didn't think I would be first, no. But I felt pretty good, I had a lot of positive support throughout the campaign ... so I felt reasonably good ... but I wasn't counting my chickens, that's for sure," she said.

Newcomer Robert Hawkins spent judgement night at home with his wife Susan and a circle of supportive friends and relatives.

"I knew it was really tough and it was really scary ... but I was really confident ..." said Hawkins while praising the support of his family and friends."I'm really excited."

Unlike some others, this new councillor didn't spend any time fretting over the race for council seats.

"I knew people would decide and I told myself from the very start that however they chose to go, I would be completely happy with ..." Hawkins said.

Incumbent David McCann came out second to Bisaro by just a few hundred votes.

"I feel just fine," McCann said at the end of the long, but exciting, evening.

"I'm looking forward to meeting with the new council and getting into shape ... there are a lot of choices that have to be made," McCann said.

Dave Ramsay, who placed third in the standings, spent the evening at home for a while, because he was "a bit nervous," and then headed out to city hall.

"I was happy to finish third ... having been out of (council) for a year and to still finish that strongly, that was a good indication that people still were happy with the job I did when I was there and would like to see me back there," he said

Incumbent Ben McDonald spent a good portion of the evening at election central, the MacKenzie Lounge. He wasn't nervous, however, stating he had "lots of experience losing."

"I expected that Bisaro would top the polls and I believed there would be a fair bit of support for the incumbents bec ause I don't think that many people were angry with council.

Incumbent Alan Woytuik said he was pretty confident he would be re-elected, but was unsure how he would place.

"I'm feeling pretty good. I would have liked to have been a little higher up there but I'm still there and still able to do my thing. I'm quite happy," he said.

Lyons said he was nervous for about six weeks prior to the big day.

"I'm glad it's over now," he said with a sigh of relief.

Lyons said he's looking forward to "a brilliant future in Yellowknife."

O'Reilly celebrated his victory at home surrounded by his family and friends.

"I'm pleased that Yellowknifers have confidence in me to re-elect me for a second term," he said.

O'Reilly said he believes there is once again a good balance on council and he looks forward to the next three years.