INUVIK
Dez Loreen is well aware of his reputation and said he hopes people will be able to see him for who he is now and give him a shot.

Dez Loreen is running for the position of Inuvik Boot Lake MLA in the Nov. 23 territorial election. - Sarah Ladik/NNSL photo

He is running against incumbent MLA Alfred Moses for the Inuvik Boot Lake district in the Nov. 23 territorial election and said he knows he is facing an uphill battle.

"People are asking me why I'm running, if I'm serious," he said. "I mean, I'm a comedian."

Known primarily as a former reporter and the driving force behind trope Inuvik Comedy, Loreen was quick to say he believes Moses is doing a good job and that he respects the incumbent MLA for his efforts for the betterment of the community and the territory as a whole. He does, however, believe that there is a tendency towards complacency when it comes to electing representatives.

"In our ridings, we see a lot of acclamations," Loreen said. "Is that the best thing for the community and for our democracy? It makes for career politicians."

Loreen said he is the first to admit he hasn't had a cookie-cutter path to a political career, but that his past in the media will be an important component of his platform.

"I've worked in print, in TV and in radio, telling people's stories," he said. "I know how to ask the right questions."

More than anything, Loreen said he wants to make things better for young people in the North. If elected as an MLA, he would work to make sure young people in the community have a strong foundation right from the beginning.

"We see a lot of misspent youth, and I was one of them," he said. "As a community, as a people, we have to bring our kids along and make sure no one gets left behind."

Housing is also a top priority, Loreen said, especially for young families trying to get their feet under them and gain some stability. He credited NWT Housing Corp. programs with helping somewhat but would like to see the programs better used and extended.

"There are people selling their houses and moving south," he said. "At the end of the day, there are people who can't do that. They have to live here, they have to brave the winters and we have to make it better for them."

Loreen admits that he benefits from a certain amount of name recognition and that he plans to make use of social media in a way he expects his opponent won't, but that he also hopes people will see he has turned a new page.

"In a small place, when you make mistakes, people don't forget," he said. "I'm hoping people will see how far I've come in the last few years. I'm at a good place in my life."

Despite never having held public office, he said he's prepared to learn all there is to know about being an MLA and would make it the focus of his professional life.

"I truly believe I deserve a shot. That's why I put my name forward, and I wish more people would," he said. "I'm doing this because I want to. No one came to me and said there's a gap here. I have nothing bad to say about Alfred; he's done a great job. But it's about, if you feel like you're ready and can contribute, you should step forward, and that's what I've done."

- See next week's edition of Inuvik Drum for profiles on the other candidates seeking office in the territorial election.

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