And then there were three: Nunavut byelection candidate disqualified

Sandy Kautuq, a candidate in the upcoming Uqqummiut byelection, says he has been kicked out of the race on a technicality.

“When the chief electoral officer, along with their legal counsel, called me just before lunch yesterday, I was disappointed but, what can I do?” said Kautuq, reached at his home Jan. 21. “I will know better for next time.”

Kautuq, who teaches physical education and computers to primary students in Clyde River, said Elections Nunavut officials notified him that under the Public Service Act, his official leave of absence from Qikiqtani School Operations had to begin before he became a candidate in the byelection.

Kautuq said he contacted QSO before becoming a candidate, but the leave didn’t officially kick in until a week after the campaign had begun.

Patrick Orr, legal counsel for Elections Nunavut and the man who actually wrote the Nunavut Elections Act, said Jan. 21 that the Government of Nunavut has strict rules about public servants and running for office.

Orr said he believes two people complained to the RCMP about Kautuq’s eligibility in the byelection and that the RCMP had informed Elections Nunavut of their investigation, but Orr said they’d already “heard rumours,” to that effect before hearing from police.

A temporary “cease and desist” order has been given to Kautuq to prevent him from campaigning and raising money and to strike his name from the ballot.

Unless new information comes to light, that temporary order becomes official Jan. 22, Orr said.

“From Elections Nunavut’s point of view, we just want to make sure that this mix-up doesn’t affect the results,” Orr said.

Kautuq said a friend told him who one of the complainants was, but he didn’t want to publicly disclose the person’s name.

“One of the reasons I’m really disappointed is that I got really good support from the community,” he said. “I had real confidence going into this Uqqummiut election but what the heck? What can I do?”

The father of four said he’s been interested in politics since he was a little boy, following the careers of people such as John Amagoalik, Mary Simon and Nellie Cournoyea.

Kautuq has served on the Clyde River hamlet council, both as councillor and mayor, for 13 years and said he decided recently to take the next step and throw his hat into the territorial ring.

But that decision came at the last-minute and he says now he wishes he’d taken more time to read the rules and understand what was required when it came to employment status and campaigning.

In any case, he says he won’t dwell on disappointment and may run again for MLA in future.

“You got to be positive,” he said, with a laugh. “I’m a teacher so I always have to be a good role model.”

Uqqummiut voters who go to the polls on election day, Feb. 9, will have a choice of three candidates: James Arreak, Niore Iqalukjuak and Pauloosie Keyootak.

You can find out more about the byelection by going here.