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BEHCHOKO/RAE-EDZO - With 30 candidates vying for 10 positions on community council, interest in serving the community of Behchoko is high – but not as high as the 2005 election.

36 people ran for council in the first Tlicho government election since the Tlicho Agreement came into effect, showing a slight decline in interest. Terry Testart, returning officer for the election said it’s still uncommon to see so much interest.

Incumbent chief Leon Lafferty is running again to defend his seat in the Tlicho government. - NNSL file photo

“It’s quite surprising actually,” Testart said. “It’s great to see a big interest in serving the people of the community.”

Four candidates will be vying for the position of chief, including incumbent chief Leon Lafferty. Lafferty defeated George Mackenzie by 71 votes in the 2005 election, 280 to 209, respectively. Former Behchoko band chief Clifford Daniels will try to de-throne Lafferty on June 8, along with John Mantla and Bertha Rabesca-Zoe.

In the last election, Daniels finished fourth behind Lafferty, Mackenzie and Rosa Mantla, with 170 votes. Mantla finished third with 197. John Mantla ran for council in 2005, but did not get elected.

Only three councillors will seek re-election this year. Joe Beaverho, Joseph Mackenzie and Ernie Smith will all seek re-election, while at least seven seats will be filled my new faces.

Nominations closed last Monday for the June 8 election for chief and 10 councillors positions. Testart said there is a good variety of people and opinions running in this election.

“It’s a good cross section of interest and age and people,” he said, adding he believed one candidate had just turned voting age. “If they have that many people interested in the community it’s got to reflect as a positive measure of the interest in council.”

He said there seems to be a strong interest in contributing to the progress and continued improvement of the community.

“We’ve got a lot of young people running, more than usual and it’s an opportunity for people getting involved,” he said.