BEHCHOKO/RAE EDZO - A potential candidate's name was missing from the ballot when Behchoko voters elected their community government last week.

Ernestine Martin, a 35-year-old mother and student in the community, intended to run for council but her nomination form was rejected when a glitch at the elections office rendered her ineligible.

When returning officer Terry Testart received and signed Martin's form on May 4, the last day for nominations, Martin believed she had officially entered the political race. Later that day, however, she received a letter from Testart addressed to "Ernestine Mantla," informing her she wasn't a candidate because, "A nominator on the nomination paper for councillor is not a voter in the community, which is not permitted."

Martin said she was reasonably sure both of her nominators are on the list of registered voters in Behchoko, but "Ernestine Mantla" isn't on the list because no such person exists.

"It must have been a misprint of my last name, because he used "Ernestine Mantla" and I didn't see until I got home," she said.

Martin didn't notice the mistake until long after nominations had closed, but she said she plans to make an appeal to the elections office because running for councillor is important to her.

I can't let this go, I just can't," Martin said. " I'm trying to make a difference for the community."

People in the community have been encouraging Martin to run for the past two years, she said, but the mother of four had been busy finishing up high school.

She'll receive her diploma at the end of the month and eventually wants to study nursing or accounting at the University of Alberta. But before she leaves her community, she wants a chance to serve it.

Before she made the decision to throw her hat in the ring this year, she asked her father - a respected elder in the community - for his blessing. He gave it, and Martin began to think about how she would represent Behchoko and focus on the youth.

"Looking back from my time as a young mother and even to the present, I've seen a lot of changes in Behchoko," she said.

"I really thought a lot about what I'm going to do to make a difference. And when I sat back and when I thought about all these things, like my whole life, I really, really had a lot to give and I had the patience to do it."

She wants another shot at a council position since she believes the error resulted in her being barred from the election.

Testart did not return calls for comment before press time.