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INUVIK
Inuvik Boot Lake constituents voted for Alfred Moses by such a slim margin that there will be a recount.

Alfred Moses, centre, is surrounded by family and supporters at the Interagency Committee office in Inuvik on Oct. 3. Moses won the Inuvik Boot Lake riding by five votes over deputy mayor Chris Larocque. There will be a recount to ensure the results are accurate. - contributed photo

Moses and his platform of a healthy community for a healthy economy won the Boot Lake constituency with 216 of 508 votes, claiming 43 per cent of the vote in the Oct. 3 territorial election.

"It's good to see that people came out and voted and supported me," Moses said. "It really shows my platform was well received in the community."

Right behind Moses was hopeful Chris Larocque, who ran on the platform that a strong economy would lead to more opportunities in the community. Larocque, deputy mayor of Inuvik, won 42 per cent of the vote with 211 votes.

"I worked as hard as I could and it is what it is," Larocque said. "Alfred's a great guy and we were prepared for a tight race. It's a tough one."

Two other candidates ran in the election, but were not close to competing with Moses or Larocque. Grant Gowans and Paul Voudrach each received less than 10 per cent of the vote, with 63 and 18 votes, respectively.

"It was interesting anyways," Voudrach said. "It's been an experience and I learned a lot. I'm happy for whoever wins."

Results from the election were slow to come in the Inuvik Boot Lake riding, keeping the Larocque and Moses parties on edge for most of the night. Once the first three polls came in, Moses had a lead on Larocque of 177 to 166. The pair then had to wait on advance and special polls, which were finally posted at 11:30 p.m. Larocque then conceded his defeat to Moses once the results were available.

Moses wants to let people know that he'll be a different type of MLA, and will work with other MLAs in the region to build a healthier Inuvik that will be better able to contribute to the economy.

"In terms of being in Inuvik, I'll be in the community, sitting at the tables and sitting side by side with the people," Moses said. "I'm going to continue to volunteer and be out in the community. "

Plenty of meetings

Over the next few weeks, he will meet with all elected officials in the region, as well as with the organizations. He also looks forward to going door to door and speaking with people like he did during his campaign.

Before becoming MLA for Boot Lake, Moses worked as a youth volunteer officer for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. The new job will be a bit of a change.

"I'll have more responsibility personally and make more healthier decisions in terms of education to keep a healthy body," Moses said.

Moses and Larocque will have to wait until the recount is complete sometime next week before hearing the official results, but as of Oct. 4, Moses is "unofficially officially" on the payroll as an MLA.

"I think people looked at the work that I've done and seen the passion I've had for the community," Moses said. "They see I can make a change and be a man of action. It's really exciting."

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