Adam Johnson
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, September 12, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Like many MLA candidates, Garrett Cochrane has been thinking about running for years.

Unlike the rest, however, Cochrane's planning stretches back to his high school days - a whopping year ago.

Eighteen-year-old MLA candidate Garrett Cochrane strikes his best pose on the streets of Yellowknife. He hopes to convince Yellowknifers to look past his age and listen to what he has to say. - Adam Johnson/NNSL photo

"I've been talking about it for as long as I can remember," said the 18-year-old Yellowknife South candidate.

A born-and-raised Yellowknifer, Cochrane said he's running because he wants to change his city for the better.

"I've lived in Yellowknife for most of my life," he said. "In the last few years, I've seen my town go from a beautiful northern capital to a place that really needs some help."

A Sir John Franklin graduate employed at Wal-mart, Cochrane said he hopes that voters will overlook his youth and listen to what he has to say.

"I hope I can get to people by substance, so people won't just judge me by how old I am," he said.

"If you're old enough to vote, you should be old enough to run."

Cochrane isn't the first 18-year-old to join an MLA race in Yellowknife. In 2003, Dan Wong ran in Yellowknife Centre, finishing fifth out of seven candidates.

Cochrane said he could bring an interesting perspective to the legislative assembly, particularly on issues of social justice, sustainability and education - a system he came to know intimately after 13 years of schooling. While he said post-secondary funding needs to be addressed, the divide between Yellowknife Catholic Schools and Yk Education District No.1 is pressing.

"There's so much tribalism between them," he said. "We need to find a way for them to come together."

As for voting, Cochrane insists he doesn't plan to ask people to vote for him, just that they'll consider it.

"Hopefully I can offer a real change and real representation for everyone, not just the youth."

The political rookie faces two other candidates attempting to fill the vacuum left by two-term MLA Brendan Bell's decision to leave territorial politics.

These include Catholic board member Amy Hacala and long-time GNWT bureaucrat Bob McLeod.

"I think it's wonderful, said Hacala. "Our riding is unique in that we have young people and we have older people."

"People have a good choice between candidates."

McLeod said he had spoken to Cochrane, and was glad to see someone so young join the race.

"I think it's good for people to get involved and learn about the democracy," he said.

The territorial election takes place Oct. 1.