Four square off for CamBay mayor’s job

Stephanie Autut

Syd Glawson (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)

Joe Otokiak (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)

Vicki Aitaok (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)

On Dec. 14 residents of Cambridge Bay will go to the polls to choose a new mayor from among four candidates.

The candidates are:

Stephanie Autut, the executive director of the Nunavut Impact Review Board;

Vicki Aitaok, manager of the Arctic Closet shop and the Cambridge Bay Visitors Centre;

Syd Glawson, a long-time councillor and deputy mayor who has been Cambridge Bay’s acting mayor since the resignation of Michelle Gillis; and

Joe Otokiak, a translator and interpreter.

Six council positions are also up for election. The four elected candidates with the highest votes will serve two-year terms. The two elected candidates with the lowest votes will serve one-year terms.

Nine candidates are in the running for the council: Stephen Crane, Marg Epp, Amanda Hanson, Sarah “Olayok” Jancke, Keith Lear Sr., Jessie “Nologiak” Lyall, Tara Rutherford, Wayne Solomon and Wilf Wilcox.

Crane, Epp, Solomon and Wilcox currently sit on the council.

The terms of two councillors on the current hamlet council, Shane Sather and Sharon Ehaloak, will not end until Dec. 31, 2010.

The mayor of Cambridge Bay receives $30,000 a year plus a stipend for meetings attended; the deputy mayor $15,000 per year plus the stipend, and the members an $100 honoraria per meeting and committee chairpersons receive a $250 honoraria per meeting attended and-or chaired.

The municipal vote takes place Dec. 14 at the Luke Novoligak community centre from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with an advance vote Dec. 7 from noon to 6 p.m. for voters who will be out of town or unable to vote Dec. 14.

A mobile poll will be held Dec. 10 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for voters who are disabled or physically incapacitated, and unable to reach the voting station.

To arrange a visit by the mobile poll, eligible voters can call Megan Livingston, the returning officer, at the hamlet office.