March 21, 2008
Kaludjak retains job in low-turnout snoozer
Only 29.5 per cent of eligible beneficiaries cast ballots
Paul Kaludjak and Raymond Ningeocheak easily reclaimed their jobs on the executive of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. in a Nunavut-wide election March 18 that featured a voter turnout of only 29.5 per cent.
Kaludjak, elected to his first four-year term in 2004, took 45 per cent of the vote to crush three challengers: Jack Anawak, Mickey Akavak and Abraham Tagalik.
Anawak finished a distant second, at 25.9 per cent, followed by Akavak (16 per cent) and Tagalik (13 per cent.)
Raymond Ningeocheak, who has served on NTI's executive almost continuously since 1993, won nearly half of all votes cast: 49.8 per cent.
Ningeocheak turned aside a strong challenge from James T. Arreak of Iqaluit, who took 38.4 per cent. Jayko Alooloo of Pond Inlet brought up the rear in that race with 11.7 per cent.
Beneficiaries in Qikiqtarjuaq and Kugaaruk posted the highest turnout rates, with 53 per cent each, but elsewhere, most voters shunned the polling stations.
Only 20 per cent of eligible Cape Dorset voters came out to vote and in Nunavut's largest Inuit community, Iqaluit, turnout stood at only 25 per cent.
Adamie Itorcheak, the chief returning officer, said this election's overall turnout figure of 29.5 per cent is actually higher than in NTI's 2004 executive election, when only 23 per cent of eligible beneficiaries cast ballots.
He said that this time around, he persuaded airlines to offer free travel to each candidate and enouraged broadcasters like APTN, IBC and CBC to hold candidate phone-in shows.
He also had words of praise for all the candidates.
"I feel for every candidate who ran. They deserve to be recognized for putting their names in the hat, because it's not easy to run for public office," Itorcheak said.
Here are the unnofficial results, as of this past Wednesday morning:
President
Paul Kaludjak: 2224, 45%
Jack Anawak: 1281, 25.9%
Mickey Akavak: 793, 16%
Abraham Tagalik: 643, 13%
Vice President, Finance
Raymond Ningeocheak, 2424, 49.8%
James T. Arreak, 1871, 38.4%
Jayko Alooloo, 571, 11.7%
Voter turnout: 29.5%
Editor's note: These figures are subject to possible revision.
For more information, go to: www.tunngavik.com/elections/results.php
