December 12, 2003
McCallum wins by landslide in Cambridge Bay
Four other communities
also elect new mayors
NUNATSIAQ NEWS
Former hamlet councillor Terry McCallum won a landslide victory against his
two opponents this past Monday in the race to elect a new mayor for Cambridge
Bay.
McCallum said the outcome was a sign that the community believed he would provide
"good, sound leadership" in the next two years.
McCallum, a 50-year-old civil servant for the territorial department of public
works, came away from the polls with 252 votes. Bobby Aknavigak, McCallum's
closest competitor, garnered 48 votes, and Bobby's sister-in-law Vivienne Aknavigak
picked up 29 votes.
All available council seats were acclaimed.
McCallum said he will wait until January when he can meet with council to set
an agenda for his coming two-year term. However, he says he'll stick with his
campaign promise to make youth a priority.
"Youth are vital to our communities," he said. "They are vital
to having a good strong community in the future."
McCallum hoped to work on projects such encouraging youth to stay in school,
and working with the district education authority and schools on areas where
the hamlet can help out.
One area might be helping hire a counsellor for the high school, McCallum said.
"Right now in the high school, we don't have a school counsellor,"
McCallum said. "The teachers are too busy to put on that hat. We want to
support the school as much as we can."
McCallum replaces Keith Peterson, who has announced that he will run for Cambridge
Bay's seat in the legislative assembly.
Susan Salluviniq was elected mayor of Resolute Bay with 45 votes. George Eckalook
came in second with 23 votes, and Saroomee Manik took seven votes.
Stanley Adjuk is the new mayor of Whale Cove, after winning 35 votes. Jack
Angoo received 27 votes, Solomon Voisey received 18 votes, and Louis Oklaga
received six.
In Clyde River, Igah Hainnu was elected mayor with 94 votes. Leah Taussugat
received 65 votes.
The new mayor of Arctic Bay is Niore Iqalukjuak, who won with 76 votes. Rodney
Reid came in second with 38 votes. Olayuk Naqitarvik received 35 votes, Dwight
Tilley received 23 and Kalluk Ettuk received 10.
The mayors of Coral Harbour and Grise Fiord were returned automatically for
another term because their candidacies were uncontested.
In the remaining 18 communities, the mayor's term is not up yet.
In Gjoa Haven, the election for four hamlet councillors was postponed after
a young hunter was found dead on Sunday. Charlie Qirqqut had been missing for
about five days before he was found frozen on the tundra. The election will
be held Dec. 15.
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