IQALUIT - The results are in, and it is official: Iqaluit's incumbent mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik will return to office for a third term.

Victorious for a third term, Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik answers reporters' questions at her campaign headquarters at Grind & Brew shortly after the announcement of her electoral win on Oct. 19. - Gabriel Zarate/NNSL photo

Winning with nearly 58 per cent of Iqaluit's vote, Sheutiapik said her mandate was to continue her long-term planning for the city, "pulling together to create partnerships."

Sheupiapik said she looked forward to working with a new council, who may have different priorities from their predecessors.

"It's going to be interesting with new councillors because all have identified needs and wants. That's going to be a real eye-opener," she said.

Voter turnout was high for a municipal election. Chief returning officer Kirt Ejesiak estimated it was at least 50 per cent higher than in the last election in 2006. Sheutiapik attributed that to the wide field of candidates running for council.

Her challenger Jim Little took 42 per cent of the vote, higher than many had expected. With most of the council candidates running as challengers, Sheutiapik suggested their voters may have been more inclined to support Little's challenge to her incumbency.

For his part, Little expressed disappointment with the outcome.

"I felt I had some pretty good momentum going there," he said.

Little said he wished he had had more time to talk with voters, but was hindered by the need to leave town for medical reasons for more than a week during the campaign.

He said he had hoped another candidate for mayor would emerge. If that had happened, he might have dropped out to support the other challenger. Little said he had not looked forward to the possibility of another three years in city hall.

Asked what's next for him now that he's out of office, Little said, "Find a job, make some money!"

According to the unofficial results, councillors David Alexander, Jimmy Kilabuk and Simon Nattaq have been re-elected.

They will be joined by new councillors Mary Akpalialuk, David Ell, Natsiq Alainga-Kango, Mat Knicklebein, and Mary Ekho Wilman.

The numbers of votes are closely contested for the eighth seat on the council. Only a single vote separates David Alexander from Romeyn Stevenson.

Candidates have 72 hours to request a recount from the chief returning officer.

The District Education Authorities of Iqaluit and Apex had so few candidates step forward for election, that the open seats on both bodies were filled by acclamation.

The Apex DEA only had three people nominated, so the remaining four seats will be filled when the acclaimed members appoint people to fill them, according to chief returning officer Kirt Ejesiak.