YELLOWKNIFE - Whatever the perceived shortcomings of the Northwest Territories hybrid of consensus and parliamentary governance, most candidates in the Oct. 1 election say they prefer it to any system dominated by party politics.

Some of the 52 candidates interviewed by News/North also said the Territories should change the way the premier is elected. Many who rejected the idea worried that the weight of population in Yellowknife would give voters in the capital an advantage over the small communities.

Only three candidates said that consensus government is not working; 29 said it works and they like it. Fourteen would have voters elect the premier and eight think the idea should at least be discussed in the legislative assembly while 12 want the choice to remain with MLAs.

Before he was elected, Kam Lake incumbent Dave Ramsay counted himself among those who questioned the effectiveness of consensus governance, which blends discussion and debate among equals with parliamentary traditions of cabinet supremacy and secrecy.

"I was all about accountability and other buzzwords like that. But after being there for four years, my opinion changed. Nobody's telling me what I can and can't say. When a constituent comes to me with a concern, I can voice that concern for them."

Robert McLeod, who is seeking a second term in Inuvik Twiin Lakes, echoes those sentiments.

"We're 19 independent members, we can vote the way we want or the way people want you to vote and not have to toe the party line.

"Nowhere else in the country would regular members be able to see a copy of the budget before it's tabled in the house," said McLeod, who thinks voters should choose the premier.

"The premier should be elected by the people at large," McLeod said. "He would then be the people's premier, not one elected by the MLAs."

Public Works Minister David Krutko, MLA for Mackenzie Delta thinks consensus governance serves the Territories' many small communities well, and is happy to stay with the present system of choosing the premier.

The premier is " accountable to all members. That's who puts them there, and that's who can take them out."

Nunakput incumbent Calvin Pokiak supports the status quo, as does Speaker Paul Delorey.

Marc Miltenberger, who is challenging Delorey in Hay River South, has confidence in consensus government, but thinks the idea of electing the premier by popular vote "needs serious consideration."

"No system is perfect," said Jane Groenewegen, the incumbent in Hay River South. "Our consensus government has pros and cons. Party politics has pros and cons, as well."

Groenewegen supports the idea of a premier elected by the people.

"People want to have a say and it is the people's government," she said. "They should have a say, but I think it would be a hard sell in the smaller communities."

Groenewegen's son Jeff, who is running in Frame Lake, said "the current system serves the residents of the NWT well. Constituents have put (the choice of premier) it in the hands of the people they elected."

Range Lake MLA Sandy Lee says governance in the NWT "has to evolve and it has to maintain legitimacy by being responsive to people's needs. If people want to look at changing the system I'm all for that."

Weledeh hopeful Bob Bromley says consensus government "is not working as effectively as it should," but wants further discussion on changing the way the premier is chosen. Among the Weledeh candidates, only Jonas Sangris was critical of consensus government.

"It's not working for the small communities," said Sangris, who likes the idea of voters choosing the premier.

Sahtu incumbent Norman Yakeleya said MLAs should continue to select the premier from among elected MLAs.

"We represent our people, they choose us. It's not me Norman saying this is a good premier. I'm the voice of the people, I want what my people want. The premier is accountable to MLAs."

Jackson Lafferty, MLA for Monfwi, says consensus government is working, but "at a later time, the public should be given an opportunity" to elect the premier.

Deh Cho MLA Michael McLeod said there's currently no need for the premier to be elected separately by voters. "When devolution is finished, I'd be willing to revisit the idea."

Kevin Menicoche, the incumbent in Nahendeh, said "consensus government is still important for our growing North," and having a premier elected directly by voters "is an interesting idea worth further consideration."

Challengers in the riding agree with Menicoche on consensus government, but Bob Hanna and Keyna Norwegian think that having the voters choose the premier has merit.

"I think people should have the right to choose," said Norwegian.