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Set to vote 2012 municipal electionNorthern News Services Published Monday, Sept 24, 2012
From now until the Oct. 15 election date we will be featuring profiles of mayor and council candidates from each of those five communities. Profiles of the candidates from Inuvik, Fort Simpson and Hay River can also be found in Inuvik Drum, Deh Cho Drum and the Hay River Hub, respectively. In Inuvik, former premier Floyd Roland announced he is running for mayor. Joining Roland in the race for mayor is Todd Shattler. There are 15 people running for the council positions, including nine newcomers. Ken Crocker, Susie Driscoll, Melinda Gillis, Natasha Kulikowski, Joe Lavoie, Derek Lindsay, John Ritchie, Clovis Savoie and Edward Shattler have added their names to the ballot. Terry Halifax, Jim McDonald, Alana Mero, Vince Sharpe, Kurt Wainman and Clarence Wood are running for re-election. In Fort Simpson, Sean Whelly will have no competition in this year's race for mayor. Meanwhile, 16 residents have been nominated for councillor positions. The list of candidates includes Celine Antoine, Adolfus Augier, Walter Blondin, Larry Campbell, Gus Croatto, Robert Hanna, Leah Keats, Marie Lafferty, Ron McCagg, Stella Nadia, Dennis Nelner, Renalyn Pascua-Matte, Michael Rowe, Patrick Rowe, Gordon Thompson and Tom Wilson. In Fort Smith, there are two candidates for mayor in a repeat of the 2009 campaign. Janie Hobart is seeking re-election after winning three years ago, and her competition is once again Brad Brake. There are 15 candidates for the eight seats on council - Arliss Arbeau, Lynn Napier Buckley, Sandra Dolan, Al Dumont, Frieda Martselos, Don Matthews Jr., Bob McArthur, Barry Nicholson, Grant Paziuk, Louis Sebert, Trevor Tordiff, Don Webb and incumbents Ron Holtorf, Kevin Smith and Chris Westwell. In Hay River, Brian Lefebvre will face Andrew Cassidy in the mayoral race. Fifteen candidates are racing to fill eight councillor positions. Roger Candow, Jason Coakwell, Keith Dohey, Beverly Gibb, Kandis Jameson, Donna Lee Jungkind, Ken Latour, Sandra Lester, Michael John Maher, Bradley Lloyd Mapes, Elise Marie, Vince McKay, James W. McPherson, Michael St. John and Brian K. Willows are all vying for a three-year term on council. In Norman Wells, incumbent mayor Dudley Johnson will face challenger Gregor Harold McGregor. Ten councillors are also in the race for six seats. Philip J. Bailey, Stewart Beckingham, Joseph William Caidler, Renee Closs, Robert R. Greek, Sherry Hodgson, Jesse Lepine, Timothy L. Melnyk, J.P. Michaude, Frank Pope and Nathan Watson are running for council. Louis Sebert Fort Smith Why are you running in this election? I feel I can make a contribution to the future development of Fort Smith. What experience or qualities do you have that would make you a good councillor? I have nine years of experience on municipal council and other relevant experience including seven years on the board of the NWT Power Corporation. I have practised law in Fort Smith since 1984.
What are the top two issues facing Fort Smith? The need to expand our economic base beyond that of government. The necessity to run an efficient and stable municipal government. What would be your two main goals if you are elected? Shortly after the election, the municipal government should meet with other local stakeholders, such as the two First Nations and the Metis, to discuss the future economic development of the community. The municipal government should embark on an examination of the town's financial position so that we can adequately plan for future expansion and development. Brad Brake Fort Smith Age: 44 Occupation: correctional worker Years living in community: 14 Why are you running in this election? I am running because I want to enhance the quality of life of the people who live in Fort Smith. We have so much potential and so many great people with amazing abilities. I feel that I can make a difference, a real definite contribution as the next mayor! What experience or qualities do you have that would make you a good mayor? 2012 alumnus of the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference; P.J. Gardener Business Institute, Memorial University - Entrepreneurial Certificate; Two-year journalism program; Correctional leadership training program; Public Service Alliance of Canada - National table officer leadership training; ASIST - Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training; Anti-oppression training; Advanced representatives training (PSAC); Verbal Judo; Non-violent crisis intervention; Six years board experience as a national table officer of the UNW; Experience at the PSAC National Board of Directors as the voting representative of the UNW; Experience on bylaw revision and writing motions for board submission; Knowledge of parliamentary procedure and rules of order. What are the top two issues facing Fort Smith? I think that civic engagement, getting the people to become active in their governance is a high-priority item. There has been a lot of turmoil recently that could have been avoided. That and community sustainability. I learned that sustainability for many small towns begins with the human spirit. I think we have lots of spirit here that has been dampened by recent events and it needs a leader who can help people find their spark, their catalyst as it were. I think I can be the catalyst of change. What would be your two main goals if you are elected? 1. To ensure the smooth and efficient running of the corporation of Fort Smith ensuring fiscal responsibility through the careful consideration of spending taxpayer dollars. 2. To listen to and to respond to citizens' concerns and the concerns of advisory boards. Don Webb Fort Smith Age: 64 Occupation: retired Years living in community: more than 40 Why are you running in this election? I feel that my experience and corporate knowledge gained both as a municipal councillor and employee will be a valuable asset that is currently lacking. I want to work to restore our community image by addressing grass cutting and street cleaning. I want to restore our employee confidence and want to continue the unsightly premises cleanup. What experience or qualities do you have that would make you a good councillor? I am a good listener and a great team player; I have been in private enterprise for 25 years; I served 15 years on the local fire department, attaining the rank of captain; I was the president of the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce for numerous terms; I am the current president of the Fort Smith Curling Centre; Served approximately seven years on Fort Smith town council; Served six years as deputy mayor; Served one year as EMO/Lands Officer for the town; Served 10 years as town public works foreman; I served three years in town administration as Director of Municipal Services and a term as Acting SAO; I would bring 35-plus years of corporate knowledge to the council. What are the two top issues facing Fort Smith? There are several issues currently facing the town that need to be addressed. If I had to pick two, I would want to address financial matters pertaining to budgets and adhering to the adopted budget, and secondly to address both the town image and staffing issues. What would be your two main goals if you are elected? Besides achieving the items in question three, I would address the roles of council to govern and legislate and that of administration to perform all other duties and address the current staff retention problems. Renee Closs Norman Wells Age: 40 Profession: Assistant superintendent of education for the Sahtu Divisional Education Council Years in Norman Wells: Six Why should residents vote for you? Closs says as an educator, she understands the importance youth have in a community. "I'm a strong advocate for the youth in Norman Wells and, if elected, I would support new and existing youth projects," she said. "I think activities, sports and crafts are very important for youth in a Northern community." She also said she would listen to any concerns brought forward by constituents. What are some of the priority issues in the upcoming election, and how will you tackle those issues? Closs said she believed the community's proposed biomass energy project and the community's infrastructure needs were some of the important topics in Norman Wells. She said she would like the biomass energy project decided by plebiscite, which is the same method used to determine community support for lifting alcohol restrictions last February. She said just as they had made the decision about whether to restrict alcohol, the fate of the multi-million dollar project should be decided by the townspeople. "It's quite a large and expensive project, the costs would be quite high," she said. "The town would have to apply for loans and grants to complete this project, how are those costs going to be recovered? Is it an amount that is going to have to be carried forward for future generations?" Closs said she believes more public meetings need to be held to discuss the town's energy options. Closs also said general infrastructure, including the town's waste disposal site, need to be addressed. The dump, which was formerly open 24-hours a day, now has limited hours throughout the week. Closs said as a result, some residents have been disposing of household garbage in the public receptacles along the roadways. She said she would like to see the dump re-opened 24 hours a day and establish a hazardous waste disposal area. She also suggested creating a designated day once or twice a month during which households could set dangerous items at the end of their driveways for municipal staff to pick up and bring to the site. Dudley Johnson Norman Wells Age: would not disclose Profession: Long-term disability Current mayor, volunteer justice of the peace, town coroner, marriage commissioner and notary Years in Norman Wells: 13 Why should residents vote for you? Dudley Johnson, current mayor of Norman Wells, says he is still the man for the job. "The main reason is that I am one who does not give up," he said. "I am a person who will well represent the people and bring their concerns to the forefront. I have no hidden agenda. I'm upfront and clear." Johnson said was approached to become mayor during the last election and initially refused before deciding to throw his name into the ring. "I said no three times because I had more to lose than gain in running for mayor," he said. "But that being said, I love this area. I believe in this town and I believe in these people, in fact, all the people of the Sahtu region." What are some of the priority issues in the upcoming election, and how will you tackle those issues? Johnson said the biomass energy project is one of the biggest issues facing Norman Wells. "I wanted a solution that is green even though we're sitting in one of the biggest oil areas of the world," he said. "I believe I can make Norman Wells a green town." He said he supports a permanent road through the Mackenzie Valley to promote economic growth in both development and tourism industries. "We need the road to lower the cost of living here, to encourage tourism to come to this area," he said. "We have a huge potential here both in development and tourism. Freight cost and food and energy costs will go down." Johnson said investing in the town's infrastructure is another priority, including building a 70-home subdivision and replacing the town's water plant. "We have a plan now put in place we know what we need," he said. "We're going to need government help." Johnson said he still supports a decisions to reduce hours at the town's landfill and develop a management plan. "Over the years, we don't really know what has been stored or dumped in that dump by the oil companies or any construction company," he said. "There are drums of stuff there, we don't know what is in them," he said. He also said he would like to see the liquor rationing system brought back. "The affects of that in the town of Norman Wells have not been large, but the affects in the neighbouring communities have been devastating," he said. Bob Greek Norman Wells Age: 48 Profession: Branch manager at Matco Transportation Systems Years in Norman Wells: Five Why should residents vote for you? Bob Greek says he believes his three years as a Norman Wells town councillor, as well as his volunteer activities in the community, make him a suitable candidate. "I would suggest I have demonstrated over my last three years on council that I have the best interests of the town in mind," he said. "Since coming to Norman Wells, I have been involved with the Air Cadet program, I'm the chairman of the community justice committee, vice chair of our Norman Wells Historical Society and I'm very active at all community events." What are some of the priority issues in the upcoming election, and how will you tackle those issues? Greek said he believes the proposed biomass energy project is the town's top priority right now. "I do support the biomass option, with a caveat that the system can only work if we get the full support of the territorial and federal governments," he said. Greek also said infrastructure improvements will be needed to keep up with the anticipated growth of the region's oil and mining industries. "We have infrastructure issues, we have transportation issues and we have housing issues that are going to need to be addressed to prepare for the potential boom that could occur in this area over the next several years," he said. Greek also said communications services to expand the use of Smartphones and other devices are also required to attract business, such as exploration companies visiting the town. "We need infrastructure here and we need to make sure we can facilitate the type of demands that are going to be placed on us," he said. He said as a council member, he has attended meetings with NorthwesTel and the Northwest Territories Power Corporation to address these concerns. Greek also said he supports the extension of the Mackenzie Highway into Norman Wells. "We need permanent transportation solutions in this town," he said. Ron Holtorf Fort Smith Occupation: retired as president of Aurora College in 2005. Years living in community: raised in the NWT, resident of Fort Smith since 1970 Why are you running in this election? Having had the experience of a term on council, I would like the opportunity to continue to contribute to the growth and development of Fort Smith - strengthening our sense of community. Fort Smith has excellent town facilities and services that have to be managed in a fiscally-responsible manner. I am keen on assisting in the required planning and oversight.
What experience or qualities do you have that would make you a good councillor? Experience: Many years of proven effective leadership and management in senior management of Aurora College. Interested in and effective in strategic planning and implementation, policy development, building strategic community alliances. Qualities: Personal integrity, positive attitude, team player, cross-cultural interests, enjoys planning, organizing and problem solving. What are the top two issues facing Fort Smith? 1. Promoting and advancing opportunities to grow our community for GNWT devolution, tourism and First Nations aspirations. 2. Putting a mayor and council in place that will place the priority of governance and oversight ahead of administering and managing the affairs of the town. What would be your two main goals if you are elected? 1. Ensure broad community-based timely consultation with respect to reconfirming the goals of the 2010 Integrated Community Sustainability Plan, the town's strategic document, and updating the 2008 General Plan - providing council a broad blueprint toward annual priorities, allocation of finite resources and accountability. 2. Ensuring ongoing effective and timely consultation with respect to the review of all existing bylaws, provision for needed ones.
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