| Kevin O'Brien | |
|---|---|
| MLA for Kiviallivik, NT | |
| In office 1995–1999 |
|
| Preceded by | Silas Arngna'naaq |
| Succeeded by | riding dissolved |
| MLA for Arviat, NU | |
| In office 1999–2004 |
|
| Preceded by | first member |
| Succeeded by | David Alagalak |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | non-partisan consensus government |
Kevin O'Brien is a Canadian union negotiator, former civil servant and a former municipal and territorial level politician who has served as a Member of both the Northwest Territories Legislature and the Nunavut Legislature. He also served as Speaker between 2000 and 2004.
O'Brien was first elected to the Northwest Territories Legislature in the 1995 Northwest Territories general election. He defeated incumbent MLA Silas Arngna'naaq to win the Kivallivik electoral district. He served a single term in the Legislature before Northwest Territories and Nunavut were split and his electoral district was abolished.
O'Brien ran for a seat in the first Nunavut general election held in 1999. He won the Arviat electoral district and became its first member. O'Brien was elected Speaker of the House in 2000 and held it until his defeat in the 2004 Nunavut general election. He was defeated by David Alagalak in a hotly contested race finishing a distant fourth.[1]
O'Brien got into legal trouble when he was convicted of illegal possession of liquor in Arviat, Nunavut. He pled guilty to the charge but it was not publicized until after the 2004 election.[2]
| Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Levi Barnabas |
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut 2000-2004 |
Succeeded by Jobie Nutarak |