Nine new mayors elected

Nunavut has nine new mayors after residents went to the polls for municipal elections on Monday, Dec. 11.

Five of the new mayors beat incumbent rivals.

No race was closer than in Whale Cove, where Percy Kabloona beat incumbent Stanley Adjuk with a single vote, 56 to 55. Johnny Sammurtok trailed with nine votes.

Elsewhere in the Kivalliq, Repulse Bay saw a crowded race, with six candidates competing for the mayor’s seat. Johnny Tagornak won with 67 votes, against Helena Malliki, 57, incumbent Donat Milortuk, 50, Hugh Haqpi, 37, Peter Mannik, 18, and Chris Tungilik, 11.

In Arviat, Johnny Marngark won with 288 votes, beating Peter Kritaqliluk, 181, incumbent Elisabeth Copland, 154, and David Ukutak Jr., 59.

Baker Lake’s David Aksawnee won with 233 votes against Joe Aupaluktuq, with 218 votes.

In Chesterfield Inlet, Tony Amauyak won with 67 votes, against Leonie Mimialik, 23, and Pierre Tautu, 19.

In Rankin Inlet, Lorne Kusugak was acclaimed.

In the Baffin, Hall Beach residents chose Sam Anguratsiaq, who received 81 votes, over Jopie Kaernerk, with 69 votes, and incumbent Paul Haulli, with 45 votes.

In Sanikiluaq, Eli Kavik won with 152 votes, defeating incumbent Annie Amitook, with 60 votes, and Johnny Inuktaluk, with 19.

Igloolik residents re-elected Paul Quassa, with 276 votes. Rival Thomas Kublu received 98 votes.

Qikiqtarjuaq’s Loasie Audlakiak was acclaimed for another term as mayor.

And in the Kitikmeot, Gjoa Haven and Kugluktuk both chose new mayors.

Gjoa Haven’s Uriash Puqiqnak, the former MLA, won with 247 votes against Eddie Kikoak, with 92 votes. And Derek Powers is the new mayor of Kugluktuk, with 130 votes. Rival Algona James took 89 votes.

Mayors in other communities are still serving their two- or three-year terms.