Chris Hunsley
Northern News Services

Fort Good Hope (July 25/05) - A close election Monday has left residents wondering whether the outcome would have been different if past voting practices had been followed.

Incumbent Chief Ron Pierrot was re-elected by six votes over his closest competitor Lucy Jackson.

Jackson was voted in as band councillor and Pierrot was also acclaimed mayor of the charter community.

"This year the community vehicle was not used to bring people in to vote," said Jackson, who estimated she'd heard from five voters who were affected.

Of the 356 eligible voters in the community of fewer than 600, only 167 turned out to cast a ballot.

For elder Jane Kelly and her husband Liam, this meant for the first time in their life they were unable to vote.

"How could we vote if nobody picks us up?" she asked, noting health issues prevented her and other residents from walking to the polling station.

"Lots of elders didn't get picked up so they didn't vote either."

The 73-year-old, who believes along with Jackson the results could have differed if transportation had been provided, said she didn't know whether a new election should be called.

Jackson doesn't plan to challenge the results.

According to the charter community council, however, it maintained the policy of previous years except this year residents had to phone in.

"Voters could have phoned the band office and requested a ride but nobody did," said returning officer Evelyn Shae.

Work ahead

"Being re-elected gives me the encouragement to try that much harder on the challenges we're facing," said Pierrot, who said that with one term of leadership under his belt he's poised to start making positive changes.

Some of the community improvements already scheduled include: ongoing road work and pavement repair, an upgrade to the water reservoir and tank farm upgrades planned in 2006, school renovations and the construction of a new community hall in 2006.

Education to help youth regain and keep their culture is also tops his list.

The nine-member council, which was sworn in Tuesday, will see several new faces during its next term.

Patricia Manuel, Tommy Kakfwi, Harold Cook and John Louison were all elected for the first time with Charlie Barnaby, Robert Kelly, Paul T'seleie, Henry Tobac, and Lucy Jackson returning.

"It should be easier with much of the council returning to achieve our goals since we already have good working relationships," said Pierrot.