Dez Loreen
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 24, 2007

INUVIK - Inuvik Twin Lakes riding is facing an election with two candidates who claim community support is their ace in the hole.

Incumbent Robert McLeod, who won a narrow victory in the 2004 by-election to replace Roger Allen, faces a serious challenge from a former educator, Denise Kurszewski.

Twin Lakes is located on the northwest end of Inuvik, with a recorded population of 1865 people. According to Elections NWT, there were 605 registered voters in 2004.

The riding grew with redistribution last year, taking a street away from the adjacent Boot Lake riding.

Gerri Sharpe-Staples, a resident of the riding, is looking forward to a good run by two strong candidates.

"We have one person who has already served us for two years and another who is new to the scene but knows the issues," said Sharpe.

According to Sharpe-Staples, Kurszewski has a lot to offer with her experience as a teacher.

"She has a lot going for her, on top of being a woman," said Sharpe.

Sharpe-Staples thinks the election will come down to who presents themselves as the stronger candidate.

"Each have their supporters, right now it looks like it could go either way," she said.

Sharpe-Staples has lived in the riding for the last 10 years. She is happy with the way McLeod has been working.

"He's always listened to our concerns," said Sharpe.

"From reading the Hansards, you can see that he has been raising our issues."

Bringing back answers to the community is another strong point of McLeod's that Sharpe-Staples noted.

"He was good at working with the people," said Sharpe.

McLeod's praises do not reach across the whole riding however. Twenty-year resident Chris Garven said he would have liked to hear more from the MLA.

"He's been doing a good job, but I haven't heard much from him," said Garven.

To improve his connection with some of the voters, Garven would have liked to see more regular meetings with constituents and more in the form of a newsletter.

Garven said he has not been following the election as closely as in past years.

He does however, have some opinions on the current consensus government.

"I don't think having a consensus government works," aid Garven.

"There is no consistency."

Garven believes that a party system would be better for the Territories as a whole.

"I think this whole process now is just a popularity contest," he said.