Inuvik (Oct 29/04) - Tom Williams is the latest Inuvik resident to toss his hat into the ring for the upcoming byelection to vote a new Twin Lakes MLA to the legislative assembly.

"I've talked it over with people and there's support," said the chief operating officer of the Gwich'in Tribal Council.

"Territorial politics is something I've been interested in and it just seems like the next logical step for me."

Williams joins Arlene Hansen and Clarence Wood as contenders for the seat left vacant when Roger Allen resigned earlier this month.

Hansen and Wood were elected town councillors during the recent municipal election. Either would have to relinquish the position if elected to the legislature.

Wood, who came second to Allen in the November 2003 territorial election, said it's his obligation to run again.

"At that time I had 139 votes. To me, (those voters) expressed confidence in me assuming the (MLA's) position and if I didn't run this time, I feel I would be letting them down."

High on Wood's agenda is getting a full-time addictions treatment centre.

"It's disappointing when the government has lots of money for corrections, but has very little money for treatment," he said.

Hansen said that she'd like to rewrite the standards of representation the riding has had in the past.

"I believe Twin Lakes deserves to have strong, honest and approachable leadership," she said.

Former civil servant within the territorial government Pauline Gordon was in town this week and held an informal meeting at Ingamo Hall.

While it is expected that Gordon will run, she has not made an official announcement at this time.

Nominations for candidates in the Twin Lakes byelection close Nov. 5. An all-candidates forum is tentatively planned for Nov. 9.

However, the date and location have not been confirmed.

The byelection is slated for Nov. 29.