 | E-mail this story |  | Write letter to editor |  | Order a classified ad |
| E-mail this story | | Write letter to editor | | Order a classified ad |
"I'm definitely running again," said Blondin-Andrew, whose political career has paralleled Kakfwi's.
"Unless he's running for another party he won't be running for this seat." After announcing that he would not seek another term in the territorial legislature, Kakfwi was asked if he was thinking about running federally.
"Not at this time," Kakfwi said, and stressed that he would serve out his term as premier before deciding on his next move. His term ends in December.
"I may or may not share that with the public," he said Thursday.
Kakfwi was first elected 16 years ago, a year before Blondin-Andrew first won her seat for the Liberals. He has close ties with the party and campaigned for aboriginal Liberal candidates in the last federal election.
Lynda Sorensen, Kakfwi's former chief of staff, has been working in Blondin-Andrew's Yellowknife office since May. That has fed speculation that the MP might soon step aside for Kakfwi.
Blondin-Andrew was one of the few not surprised by Kakfwi's decision. "Steve signalled some time ago that he was thinking about his future; I was waiting for him to make his final decision," the Western Arctic MP said Thursday.
Blondin-Andrew said she spoke with Kakfwi shortly after his announcement in the territorial legislature. "He told me that family is one of his reasons for leaving," she said.
Blondin-Andrew said Kakfwi "has a number of options in and out of public life. He's very capable. He'll have an opportunity to do other things.
"I can't say what those are. No one has ever been able to speak for him."
If Kakfwi is considering a job in the private sector he may consult first with Ted Hughes, privacy and conflict of interest commissioner for the Northwest Territories.
Territorial law says former ministers should wait a year before lobbying or getting a job with their former departments.
