Sacs Harbour (Jan 15/07) - When it comes to work experience, Robert Eldridge has the right qualifications to be mayor of Sachs Harbour.

Since he came to the community in 1982 from Victoria B.C., he's worked with oil companies in the Beaufort, been chair of the Sachs Harbour Housing Association, sat on the local Co-Op board, served as member and chair of the recreation committee, and worked for the Power Corporation.

He's also been chairperson of the Sachs Harbour District Education Authority and today sits on the Aulavik National Park Advisory Board and Muskox Harvest Committee.

In addition to this, he's served four terms on council since 1998, with three of those as deputy mayor to former mayor Andy Carpenter.

While Eldridge is well known to many of the town's residents, he can be somewhat mysterious to people outside the community.

For instance, he agreed only to an e-mail interview with News/North, When asked his priorities, Eldridge said he looked forward to seeing the RCMP stationed in Sachs. "They are expected here the summer 2007, and new housing and barracks to be built in 2008. We are pushing for these to be built in 2007," he wrote.

Another priority is the community's energy plan, which should be just about complete by March of this year.

Eldridge also said he'd like to see the community's arena working every season, since it has recently been closed due to lack of funds.

Eldridge kindly included a few words about his family and love for the community. "I met my beautiful wife in Sachs Harbour, and got married to her in 1998. We are blessed with a son, eight-years-old and a daughter one-month-old."

He added that being mayor is especially rewarding in Sachs Harbour, because it's a scenic and welcoming place.

"Sachs Harbour is a great place to live because, first and foremost, the people of Sachs Harbour are very friendly and invitingly wonderful. The scenery is beautiful whichever way you look, and of course the hunting and fishing is great. Where else do you get to see polar bears out your window?"