Deline residents choose new chief and council in first self-government election

The Deline Got'inegovernment has announced the results of its first general election.

LeeroyAndre was elected as chief with169 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 councilwill take effect on Sept. 1 for a term of four years.

Deline members cast their votes for chief and councilon Wednesday, with advanced polls on June 27.

Recount forcouncillors

The results forcouncillorscame in on Thursday morning, which islater than expected. According to Graeme Drew, Deline'schief 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 betweenPeterBayhaand SidneyTutcho. 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, theDelineGot'ineGovernment 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