New mayors elected in Fort Smith, Fort Simpson and Inuvik, N.W.T.

Incumbents were unseated in three N.W.T. communities Monday.

In Fort Smith, Dana Fergussonwas elected with 441 votes, to Fred Daniels' 301. Joining Fergusson on council will be Mike Keizer, Connie Benwell, Karl Cox, Adam Bathe, Al Karasiuk, Leonard Tuckey, Mike Couvretteand Patricia Heaton.

Speaking to the CBC's Hilary Bird on theTrailbreakerTuesday morning, Fergusson said one thing she wants to focus on is housing.

"We definitely need new more housing available here forall residents, for employees, for growth and development," she said.

She added she wants to build on the work the community has been doing with leaders from Salt River First Nation and Smith's Landing First Nation.

"We created this really great leadership coalition so that we can address areas of common concern ... and so I'm going to look forward to working with that group as well."

In Fort Simpson, Les Wright takes over from outgoing Mayor Sean Whelly. Wright was elected with 239 votes to Whelly's 142.

Wright told CBC he wants to focus on getting a longer season for the ferry that serves the community.

"It used to be open until the first week of November," he said. "We're expecting it to close here 10 days early now and it's been doing that for a few years."

Sean Whelly took to social media to congratulate Wright and reflect on his time as mayor.

"For me, it was a good run having done 12 years as mayor and four on council, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it," he wrote on Facebook.

The eight councillors in Fort Simpson were already acclaimed.

In Inuvik, Peter Clarkson is returning as mayor. He previously served in the position from 2000 to 2006. Clarkson received 512 votes, while incumbent Clarence Wood received 222.

The rest of Inuvik's council will be made up of Steve Baryluk, Kendall McDonald, Kurt Wainman, Mario Lemieux, Melinda Gillis, Alana Mero, Ned Dayand Jennifer Parrott.

Voter turnout was 36 per cent in Inuvik.

Two mayors kept their jobs after Monday's election.

Incumbent Frank Pope was elected over Paulie Chinnain Norman Wells. Pope received 174 votes to Chinna's 48.

Election day coincided with an announcement from Imperial Oil that it would be providing some relief to Norman Wells on fuel cost by spreading out the cost of flying in fuel over a longer period of time.

"Yesterday was just one of these great days, not only winning the election but gettingfuel costs down, getting a great contribution to the Northwest Territoriesgovernment towardour food bank," Pope told Trailbreakerhost Hilary Bird. "All in all, yesterday was just one heck of a good day."

Norman Wells is the only town council made up of sixand not eight councillors. They will be: Alexis Peachey, Trevor Smith, Robert Greek, Roger Odgaard, Carol Lorentzand Heidi Hodgson.

Norman Wells' voter turnout was 65 per cent.

In Hay River, Kandis Jameson was previously acclaimed as mayor.The rest of council will be made up of Robert Bouchard, Keith Dohey, Linda Duford, Corinna Gagnier, Tom Lakusta, Rena Squirrel, Karen Walland Brian Willows.

Voter turnout in Hay River was 34 per cent.

Those elected Monday will serve three-year terms. Elections in the N.W.T.'s hamlets are scheduled to take place in December.