Christine Grimard
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 24, 2007

BEHCHOKO - Henry Zoe has a few black marks on his record, but his accomplishments beyond the headlines put him in a tight race against incumbent Jackson Lafferty.

Zoe resigned as MLA three years ago after being convicted of resisting arrest, but he is again stepping up to the plate, saying he's coming back at the request of his people.

"He's in good standing with the community," said Behchoko resident and former mayor Dan Marion. "He has ideas and he's going to express them."

Zoe made headlines for his repeated offences since the late 1970s. He was in the spotlight for making inappropriate comments about Newfoundlanders at a talent competition in 2004.

The comments lost him his position as minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, and he resigned shortly after the resisting arrest conviction.

While you can easily write someone off for offences like these in a larger city, Marion says it's different in communities where everyone knows each other.

"Most people in Rae know his life in totality," said Marion. "That's the difference of living in a community. We know our people pretty well."

Zoe's political career spans over 20 years. He served two terms from 1987 to 1994 and moved on to be the executive director of the Tlicho Tribal Council.

He also worked as a community liaison officer for Diavik Diamond Mines until he won his seat back as MLA in 2003.

Lafferty enters the race with just two years at the assembly, having won a narrow victory against Nora Doig in 2005. He brings experience as a former band councillor in his hometown of Behchoko, chairperson of the Dogrib Community Services Board, and sitting on the board of directors for the Metis Dene Development Fund.

While Lafferty doesn't have the experience Zoe offers, his success in getting extra funding for the extension on the school in Gameti last summer has increased his standing.

"Jackson has been working closely with the people and the leadership," said Gameti Chief Henry Gon. "He's been a good candidate in the short term he had."

With Zoe's history, Gon is doubtful that he will be accepted once again. "Once you fall, it's hard to get back on track," said Gon. "It makes people weaker."

Lafferty isn't entering the race with a clean slate. He wrote a letter requesting a lenient sentence for convicted sex offender Jonas Bouvier. Lafferty later apologized for writing the letter.

"Here you have two people, both have flaws, and they will both meet and be judged by their people," said Marion.

In the by-election two years ago, more than 50 per cent of voters from Behchoko, Whati, Gameti and Wekweeti cast ballots.

The riding has 1651 eligible voters.