Yellowknife (Sep 18/06) - When asked about the Hay River candidates in the upcoming municipal elections in October, Mayor Diana Ehman had an instant observation.

Mayor Diana Ehman would like to see more women in town council chairs, but she is the only female candidate in Hay River in upcoming municipal elections. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo Election candidates Yellowknife Mayor: Gordon Van Tighem (acclaimed) Council: Lydia Bardak, Bob Brooks, Paul Falvo, Mark Heyck, Kevin Kennedy, Blake Lyons, David T. McCann, Steven Meister, Shelagh Montgomery, David Wind, Doug Witty Hay River Mayor: Diana Ehman, John Pollard Council: Ron Cook, Tom Hamilton, Ronald Karp, Andrew Lamb, Dean McMeekin, Vince McKay, Michael Maher, Peter Maher, Mervin Templeton, Kevin Wallington, Harvey Werner, Greg Whitlock Fort Simpson (all acclaimed) Mayor: Duncan Canvin Council: Olinto Beaulieu, Candace Brown, Dieter Cazon, Robert Hanna, Carol Lafferty, Ruce Thomas, Lynn Wharton, Tom Wilson Norman Wells Mayor: Peter Wilfred Guther, Anne Marie Tout Council: Steve Deschene, Lise Dolen, Deni Gaccione, Daria Kubrakovich, Tim Melnyk, Craig Scott, Edward Sheppard Fort Smith Mayor: Janie Hobart, Peter Martselos Council: Jenny Belyea, Marion Berls, Pat Burke, Gordon Bush, Fred Daniels, Susan Enge, Ann Heron, Jessie Hval, Brenda Johnson, Beckie Linaker, Tim McDonald, Kaitlyn McNeill, Bernie Minute, Grant Paziuk, Ann Pischinger Inuvik Mayor: Arlene Hansen, Derek Lindsay, Jeffery Otto Council: Vince Brown, Victor Ciboci, George Doolittle, Abdallah Elbekai, Terry Halifax, Chris Larocque, Grace Loreen, Brian McDonald, Jim McDonald, Eugene Rees, Wayne Smith, Kurt Wainman, Clarence Wood

"I'm disappointed no other women ran," she said. "I thought with this election there would be more on the slate."

Out of two candidates for mayor and 12 for council in Hay River, Ehman is the lone female.

Of the 77 candidates in all six communities holding elections, just 21 are women. That works out to 27 per cent.

While that is far less than the 48.6 per cent of females in the NWT population, the percentage of female candidates is higher than in most recent municipal elections, according to Department of Municipal and Community Affairs records dating back to 1996.

The highest percentage of women candidates for council and mayor in a city, town or village election, aside from by-elections, was 41 per cent in Inuvik in 2004 -- seven female candidates out of 17.

In elections involving more than one city, town or village, women accounted for 18 per cent of candidates in 1997, 18.5 per cent in 2000 and 19.5 per cent in 2003.

However, in hamlets, settlements and charter communities over the past decade, the percentage of female candidates has hovered around 40 per cent.

Ehman said there has never been a majority of women on Hay River Town Council. In the last six years, she has been the only woman.

She noted it's difficult for women to seek elected office. "Truthfully, I think women are very busy. They tend to be the main caregivers in families."

Ehman, 52, is disappointed more women her age are not running, since most have grown families.

Likewise, she is puzzled why younger women, who may not yet have families, are not running. "Do they not feel empowered?"

Overall, Ehman feels the situation is getting worse.

Sharon Thomas, executive director of the Status of Women Council of the NWT, sees both positives and negatives in the list of candidates.

Thomas noted four women are running for mayor.

And she pointed out 10 women are running in Fort Smith. "That community is doing well."

Overall, Thomas said she is not discouraged by the numbers.

"Of course, we would like more, but it's not too bad, especially since there are so many running for mayor," she said. "That's a good sign."

Thomas said a low number of women seeking elected office has been a problem for quite a while.

She said it's because of a combination of things, including a lack of experience and confidence and a shortage of child care.

The NWT Status of Women Council has a program called Women's Voices in Leadership, which encourages females to run for office.

In February, it will also hold a conference, which will partly focus on leadership, Thomas said. "We're actually going to have a mock election."

Charles Dent, the minister responsible for the status of women, said there has been a wide range in the number of female candidates over the past 10 years.

"Obviously, we should have a representative number," Dent said. "Close to 50 per cent should be the number."

The minister pointed to the many women candidates in hamlets, settlements and charter communities as a positive sign.

Dent said the number of women candidates will not suddenly increase. "I think this sort of thing will take some time."

Looking back on the numbers over the last decade, he added, "I think the trend is in the right direction."