SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Summer is the time when would-be MLAs seek out public exposure, iron out platforms, and prepare for an election.

Murmurings of whose hats will be tossed into the ring for the 18th Legislative Assembly are circulating and some candidates have already declared their intentions.

David Wasylciw, a policy consultant who is also the volunteer-chair of Montessori Schools, said he is considering a run this fall. Wasylciw ran against Daryl Dolynny in Range Lake last election and finished second. He said it was hard work but a lot of fun walking around and knocking on about 2,000 doors and meeting the constituents. But Wasylciw said he hasn't decided which constituency he hopes to run in this time.

"I haven't even officially decided I'm going to run yet, so it's too early," he said.

Wasylciw said it is also a little too early to say who else will be on the ticket in October.

"Around this time of year there are always so many candidates talking about running. It will be interesting to see who actually runs," he said. "At one point in time (earlier in the year) half of city council was talking about running."

City councillor Cory Vanthuyne - who is nearing the end of his second term on council - said he intends to make his first run for a spot in the assembly. Vanthuyne said he hasn't decided which seat to contest but plans to figure that out over the summer, when he'll get a chance to rub elbows with voters.

"I hope to possibly - in about June - qualify where I'll be running and go from there," he said. "I think it's a time in my life, I'm in my mid-40s, and I've always had a view to want to help Yellowknife, my hometown. It's been so good to myself and my family, and my parents especially."

Range Lake MLA Daryl Dolynny said he's been asked several times if he will be running again. He said he will and hopes to use skills learned in his first term to advance his goals in another.

"You have to look at it as multiple terms," he said. "For someone who was never weaned on the four walls of government, it's obviously a learning curve for that first term ... once you start to master it then you're able to be a little bit more effective."

Dolynny - who grew up in Alberta and moved to the city in 1992 to take over the Shoppers Drug Mart franchise -said his first campaign was unnerving.

"You're putting everything on the line," he said.

"I went from something that was very stable and that was a comfort zone for me to running for public office. So it was scary but it was fun at the same time."

Having officially backed away from a run for NWT MP, Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins said he and his family have decided to avoid the long distance commute to Ottawa and make a run for a fourth term in the legislative assembly.

"In discussions with my family, my wife and I, we decided we want to stay in Yellowknife," he said.

Challenging Hawkins for his seat is first-timer Julie Green, who serves on the board of directors for United Way NWT, said she is still in the early stages of developing her campaign and doesn't want to comment further before she has time to consider her strategy.

Glen Abernethy, Great Slave MLA and minister for Health and Social Services, said he feels he was able to get a lot done during his first two terms and hopes he'll be in for a third.

He said he has not been able to devote a lot of time to consider his election strategy since his duties on cabinet occupy most of his time.

"We've got a number of really large initiatives underway right now, and timing is critical," he said. "The health transformation bill is in front of the House right now, and as soon as it passes I'm going to have a really busy six months coming up to the election."

Premier Bob McLeod, who is the MLA for Yellowknife South, has not decided if he will try for another term, according to spokesperson Shawn Dean.

Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley said he has not decided if he will be running again either.

"I will be deciding six months before the election," Bromley stated by e-mail.

Wendy Bisaro has said another campaign isn't in the cards for her which means the Frame Lake MLA spot is up for grabs to newcomers, such as Jan Fullerton, executive director for Skills Canada, who announced her first-ever political campaign to Yellowknifer in February after attended a campaign workshop for women held by the NWT Status of Women Council.

David Ramsay, MLA for Kam Lake and minister of justice could not be reached for comment before press time.

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