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Stuck in the race

Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Providence (Dec 10/04) - Michael Vandell, candidate for Fort Providence mayor, may be at the polls on election day discouraging voters from marking an X next to his name.

Vandell wants to withdraw from the Dec. 13 hamlet election but the Department of Municipal and Community Affair's legislation won't allow it.

Urged by a few community members, he initially allowed his name to stand, but said he has reconsidered due to personal reasons and other commitments.

However, MACA's rules state candidates cannot pull out after 48 hours. His letter of withdrawal was rejected by MACA, he said.

Consequently, Vandell said he's now considering putting up posters informing people they should vote for the other candidate, Margaret Thom.

"I'm going to support her. I'll support her 100 per cent," he said. "She's more than capable of doing that job."

If he should happen to win the election anyway, there's nothing preventing him from resigning immediately. That would force a by-election and the additional costs associated with it, said Gail Cyr, political and legislative advisor for MACA.

"Had the withdrawal happened prior to the expiry date, it wouldn't have been a problem -- the (other candidate) would have been acclaimed," Cyr explained. "This is consistent with all kinds of election practices. There are deadlines; it's unfortunate that sometimes people do miss them."

However, proposed amendments to the NWT's Local Authorities Election Act are being considered, Cyr acknowledged.

Thom, a school and community counsellor, said her motivation is to raise the profile of the mayor. It's generally not held in the same regard as chief or MLA, she said.

"I think it's a position that can be quite beneficial to the community with decisions being made with community involvement," she said.

She was a member of the first hamlet council, she's a former band councillor and her husband, Jim, has held the title of mayor.

If she's elected, Thom said she wants to be "more visible and more accessible to people."

As mayor, she would be involved in community events like National Addictions Awareness Week, she said. The municipality could play a role in social wellness and addictions, a "universal problem," according to Thom. In particular, she suggested that the hamlet could work with the Inter-Agency Committee, a community group that promotes wellness.

"You're still part of a community that often needs support or needs help," she said.

"I could be supportive to anyone seeking a healthy lifestyle whether it be my capacity as a mayor or as an individual."