Deline residents choose new chief and council in first self-government election
Leeroy Andre is the community's new chief with just over 60 per cent of the votes
The Deline Got'ine government has announced the results of its first general election.
Leeroy Andre was elected as chief with 169 votes, beating opposing candidate Morris Neyelle, who received 110 votes.
Six councillors were also elected: Danny Bayha, Georgina Dolphus, Tommy Betsidea, Leonard Kenny, Dora Blondin and Sidney Tutcho.
Walter Bezha was appointed as an elder representative.
- Voters in Deline electing new chief and council on Wednesday
- Deline Got'ine Government gears up for first election
The new elders council will take effect on Sept. 1 for a term of four years.
Deline members cast their votes for chief and council on Wednesday, with advanced polls on June 27.
Recount for councillors
The results for councillors came in on Thursday morning, which is later than expected. According to Graeme Drew, Deline's chief electoral officer, after the ballots were counted "we realized there was a dead tie for the sixth and final seat," so his team recounted the ballots.
The recount confirmed a tie between Peter Bayha and Sidney Tutcho. As per Deline's election laws, Drew carried out a random draw and pulled Tutcho's name.
Deline, N.W.T., has a population of around 500, and it became a self-governing community on Sept. 1, 2016.
Under the final self-government agreement, the Deline Got'ine Government has power over community affairs and local services, Indigenous matters, education, adoption, health services, social housing and income support, tourism and economic development, and local land use planning.
With files from Randi Beers
Corrections
- This story has been corrected to clarify that there was a tie and a name drawn for the sixth council seat.Jul 26, 2018 11:43 AM CT