SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Nine communities went to the polls on Dec. 14 to vote in the 2009 municipal elections.

Tuktoyaktuk reaffirmed its faith in Mayor Merven Gruben. However, the victory was not decisive with Jim Stevens and Eddie Dillon both hot on his heels. Gruben took 148 votes, Stevens Garnered 133 and Dillon 113. Acting Mayor Billy Storr will get to play the part for real after he was elected Mayor of Aklavik on Monday. He picked up 55 per cent of the votes. Julie Capot-Blanc narrowly defeated incumbent Wayne Newbury for mayor in Fort Liard 34 to 32.

Pehdzeh Ki First Nation voted on Dec. 10. Most notable was the fact Elizabeth Ann McKay was elected the first mayor of the Hamlet of Fort Resolution.

The community gained Hamlet status earlier this year.

Elections didn't stick to an overall theme with a split between voters choosing to change faces on council and leadership and those electing to stick with status quo.

Liquor plebiscites were held in Tuktoyaktuk and Aklavik to decide on alcohol restrictions in both communities. Tuk supported the plebiscite whereas Aklavik defeated it.

Elections were also held to fill spots on district education authorities and recreation committees in some communities.

Voter turnout varied between 64 per cent and 20 per cent.

Tim Lennie narrowly returns as chief in Wrigley

Pehdzeh Ki/Wrigley

Members of the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation re-elected Tim Lennie as chief by the narrowest margin possible in last week's election.

Lennie received 25 votes during the election on Dec. 10. Albert Moses, the incumbent candidate, garnered 24 votes. The other two candidates were David Moses with nine votes and Lloyd Moses with six.

The shake-up of the band's leadership continued in the council results. Angus Ekenale was the only member of the previous council to win a seat in this election. Of the six elected councillors Sarah Lennie is the only one with no previous experience on council.

A total of 66 members cast ballots during the election. Despite the narrow victory over Albert Moses, Lennie said the leadership change has gone smoothly.

Mayoral race

• Time Lennie (E): 25
• Albert Moses (I): 24
• David Moses: 9
• Lloyd Moses: 6

• Mary Clille (E) - 51
• Henry Hardisty (E) - 44
• Sarah Lennie (E) - 42
• Mary Alice Christopher (E) - 41
• Angus Ekenale (E) - 30
• Jesse Clillie (E) - 27
• Marie Williams- 24
• Darcy E. Moses- 22
• Gaylene Moses- 21
• George Moses- 20
• Raymond Pellissey- 11

Liard mayoral rematch yields different result

Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard

A rematch of the Fort Liard mayoral race from 2007 in has yielded in a different result.

Challenger Julie Capot-Blanc narrowly defeated incumbent Wayne Newbury in the Dec. 14 election.

Capot-Blanc tallied 34 votes, compared to 32 for Newbury.

Six councillors were also elected, along with six members of the Fort Liard District Education Authority.

Mayor Election

• Julie Capot Blanc (E): 34
• Wayne Newbury: 32

Council election

• Brad Giroux (E)- 50
• Morris McLeod (E) - 50
• Barb McLeod (E) - 49
• Ken Nowoselski (E) - 49
• Karen McLeod (E) - 43
• Kathie McLeod (E) - 34
• Jennifer Newbury - 28

District Education Authority Election:

• Karen McLeod (E)- 54
• Marilyn Marcellais (E)- 47
• Robert Firth (E) - 44
• Gilbert Capot Blanc - 43
• Melanie Louis (E)- 42
• Jennifer Newbury (E) 42
• Hillary Deneron - 37
• Jonathan Yeo - 35

Fort Resolution elects first hamlet government

Deninu Ku'e/Fort Resolution

Elizabeth Ann McKay was elected the first mayor of the Hamlet of Fort Resolution on Dec. 14.

It was first time a separate election was held for mayor in the community. Previously, members of the settlement council chose a chairperson, who was often referred to as mayor.

McKay topped a field of six people running for mayor, although she placed 12th in the separate race for council. She previously served as mayor of Deninoo Community Council from 2004-2007.

Eight people were elected councillors.

A tie for the eighth and final council seat between Angela McKay and Gordon Beaulieu was broken when McKay's name was drawn from a hat.

Of the 362 eligible voters in Fort Resolution, 227 cast ballots.

The mayor and councillors were elected for two-year terms. They will be sworn into office on Jan. 5 when the new Hamlet of Fort Resolution officially comes into existence to replace the current settlement council.

Mayoral Results:

• Elizabeth Ann McKay (E) - 68
• Angela McKay 59
• Dave Pierrot 32
• Robert Sayine Sr. 30
• Raymond Simon 24
• Wilfred Simon 13

Council Results:

• Garry Bailey (E) - 114
• Carol Ann Chaplin (E)- 92
• Brandie Miersch (E) - 89
• Amy Miersch (E) - 80
• Leonard Beaulieu (E) - 79
• Dave Pierrot (E) -78
• Patrick Simon (E) - 78
• Angela McKay (E) - 77
• Gordon Beaulieu -77
• Warren Delorme -76
• Freda Elief- 76
• Elizabeth Ann McKay - 73
• Bill Norn - 71
• Robert Sayine Sr. - 71
• Wilfred Simon ­ 64

Incumbent mayor fends off two challengers in Enterprise

Allan Flamand fended off two challengers in Dec. 14 elections to remain mayor of the Hamlet of Enterprise.

However, the challengers ­ John Leskiw II and Michael St. Amour ­ were elected councillors.

Flamand has been mayor for two years since Enterprise changed political status from settlement to hamlet.

The mayor was elected to a new two-year term.

The top three finishers among council candidates will serve two years, while the next three finishers will serve one year.

Mayoral Results:

• Allan Flamand (E) - 29
• Michael St. Amour 20
• John Leskiw II 8

Council results:

• Craig McMaster (E) - 44
• Joe Lalonde (E) - 41
• Robert Fry (E) - 37
• Mathew Gauthier (E) - 37
• Michael St. Amour (E) - 31
• John Leskiw II (E) - 27
• Anne Leskiw - 15
• John Leskiw III ­ 12

Fort Providence elects four new councillors

Four new councillors were elected in the Hamlet of Fort Providence on Dec. 14.

The new councillors were elected for two-year terms.

There was no election for mayor as Paschalina Nadli has a year left on her term.

Of the 512 eligible voters, 128 cast ballots. Council Results:

• Tina Gargan (E)- 73
• Jonas Landry (E) - 73
• Joyce McLeod (E) - 62
• Alphonsine Gargan (E) - 43
• Victor Constant - 41
• Irene Lafferty - 34
• Hilda Sabourin - 31
• Peter Canadien - 25
• Betty Ann Minoza -25
• Matthew Sabourin - 24
• Rudolph Landry - 20
• Rosemary Bonnetrouge - 19
• Rosemary Minoza ­ 15

Billy Storr sweeps mayoral election

Acting Mayor Billy Storr swept Aklavik's mayoral election Monday, picking up 53 per cent of the vote over his two opponents.

Storr won the position with 125 votes, while Billy Archie came second with 82 votes and Robert Buckle came third with 29.

About 55 per cent of eligible voters cast ballots, choosing Dave McLeod, Eddie Greenland, Anna Lee McLeod, Kathy Greenland and Jerome Gordon to represent them on hamlet council.

The hamlet's liquor plebiscite was narrowly defeated, 121 people voted against restricting alcohol in the community, 113 in favour.

Mayor:

• Billy Storr ­ 125 (E)
• Billy Archie ­ 82
• Robert Buckle ­ 29

Council:

• Dave McLeod ­ 174 (E)
• Eddie Greenland ­ 153 (E)
• Anna Lee McLeod ­ 136 (E)
• Kathy Greenland ­ 129 (E)
• Jerome Gordon ­ 128 (Elected for one-year term)
• Annie Buckle ­ 113
• Robert Buckle ­ 106
• Amy Steinwand ­ 83

Recreation Committee

• Charlie Kalinek ­ 198 (E)
• Anna Lee McLeod ­ 173 (E)
• Gladys Edwards ­ 167 (E)
• Carol R. Arey 166 ­ (E)
• Jerome Gordon ­ 144

District of Education representatives:

• Mary Ruth Meyook ­ 205 (E)
• Mina McLeod ­ 195 (E)
• Gladys Edwards ­ 186 (E)
• Flora Elanik ­ 181 (E)
• Robert Buckle ­ 160 (E)
• Annie Buckle ­ 159 (E)
• Kathy Greenland ­ 156 (E)
• Evelyn Storr ­ 152

Liquor plebiscite:

• No: 121
• Yes: 113
• Spoiled: 3

McPherson elects new mayor

64 per cent voter turnout

Hazel Nerysoo is the new mayor of Fort McPherson, winning the position by 21 votes in Monday's hamlet election.

Nerysoo received 116 votes while Rebecca Blake received 95, incumbent mayor Bill Prodromidis received 89 and Philip M. Blake got 37.

About 64 per cent of the population voted, choosing five councillors: Leslie P. Blake, Paul Hanthorn, Taig Connell, Jim Clark and Rebecca Blake. Mayor:

• Hazel Nerysoo ­ 116 (E)
• Rebecca Blake ­ 95
• Bill Prodromidis ­ 89
• Philip M. Blake ­ 37

Council:

• Leslie P. Blake ­ 182 (E)
• Paul Hanthorn ­ 166 (E)
• Taig Connell ­ 162 (E)
• Jim Clark ­ 152 (E)
• Rebecca Blake ­ 149 (Elected for a one-year term)
• Diane Koe - 136
• Richard Wilson ­ 135
• Louisa Kay ­ 113
• Wayne Greenland ­ 101
• Mary Clark ­ 80
• Hazel Nerysoo ­ Not counted

Paulatuk elects new councillors

Four of five candidates for hamlet council won a seat in Monday's election.

Donna Ruben, Lawrence Ruben, Richard Ruben Sr. and Merle Thrasher will all be sworn in as councillors in January.

Meanwhile, Mayor Ray Ruben still has another term to serve.

Council:

• Richard Ruben Sr. ­ 55 (E)
• Merle Thrasher ­ 53 (E)
• Lawrence Ruben ­ 51 (E)
• Donna Ruben ­ 44 (E)
• Millie Thrasher ­ 43

Merven Gruben re-elected in Tuk

58 per cent voter turnout

Tuktoyaktuk re-elected mayor Merven Gruben by 15 votes in Monday's hamlet election.

Gruben received 148 votes, while Jim Stevens came second with 133 and Eddie Dillon third with 113 votes. About 58 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballots.

Voters also chose Holly Ovayuak-Gruben, John Stuart Jr., Charles A. Gruben, Darrel Nasogaluak and Dennis Raddi Sr. to represent them on council.

Tuk's Liquor plebiscite passed by a margin of 174 to 158 with three spoiled ballots.

Mayor:

• Merven Gruben ­ 148 (E)
• Jim Stevens ­ 133
• Eddie Dillon ­ 113

Council:

• Holly Ovayuak-Gruben ­ 252 (E)
• John Stuart Jr. ­ 241 (E)
• Charles A. Gruben ­ 233 (E)
• Darrel Nasogaluak ­ 232 (E)
• Dennis Raddi Sr. ­ 177 (E)
• Maureen Gruben ­ 175
• Sarah McKay ­ 153
• Georgina Jacobson-Masuzumi ­ 151

Liquor plebiscite

• Yes: 174
• No: 158
• Spoiled: 3

New mayor in Tulita: Danny Yakeleya elected

Tulita voters elected Danny Yakeleya by 11 votes on Monday.

Yakeleya, who served as mayor of the hamlet for several terms about eight years ago, received 31 votes while his sole opponent, Wilfred Lennie Sr., received 20 votes.

Eight of nine councillor candidates were elected to the open seats, all but Brian Borowitz.

Wilfred Lennie Sr. will serve a second term on council after pulling in the second highest number of votes in that race, after Janet Bayha.

Roughly 20 per cent of the population turned out to vote on Dec. 14.

Mayor:

• Danny Yakeleya ­ 31 (E)
• Wilfred Lennie Sr. ­ 20

Council:

• Janet Bayha ­ 36 (E)
• Lori Ann Lennie ­ 34 (E)
• Wilfred Lennie Sr. - 34 (E)
• Danny Lennie ­ 29 (E)
• Dougie Yallee ­ 29 (E)
• Gary Yakeleya ­ 28 (E)
• Walter Andrew ­ 27 (E)
• Lorraine Doctor ­ 24 (E)
• Brian Borowitz - 19