Fort Resolution (Dec 15/03) - Incumbents did not fare too well in last week's election to fill four seats on the Deninoo Community Council in Fort Resolution.

Only one of the four incumbents -- Ruth Mandeville -- was re-elected on Dec. 8.

The three other winners were top vote-getter Garry Bailey, Cecil Lafferty, and Warren Delorme.

Bailey says he is pleased with the outcome of the election, and expressed thanks to his supporters.

Bailey, who is a community negotiator for the Fort Resolution Metis Council, hopes to help build up recreation and business opportunities in the community.

"My mind is always open for opportunities," he says, adding he hopes to make a difference while on council.

There were 15 candidates in all. The breakdown of the votes was: Bailey, 71; Lafferty, 65; Mandeville, 60; Delorme, 55; Leonard Beaulieu, 54; incumbent Freddie Collins, 54; incumbent Angelina Yew, 53; Raymond Simon, 49; Bill Norn, 44; Frank Fabien, 42; Jerry Sanderson, 41; incumbent Richard Simon, 40; Robert Beaulieu, 35; Joseph O'Rielly, 24; and Dana Cross, nine.

The two top vote-getters will serve two-year terms, while the other two winners were elected for one year.

Returning officer Violet Beaulieu says the high number of candidates was not unusual for Fort Resolution.

"Usually, there are quite a few every year," Beaulieu says. "There is a lot of interest in those positions."

Of the 360 eligible voters, 209 cast ballots, despite the cold temperatures on voting day. The new councillors will be sworn in at the first council meeting in January.

The Deninoo Community Council consists of seven councillors and a mayor.