The Yukon Liberals rallied about 70 party supporters at its annual general meeting over the weekend.

And potential candidates for the next territorial election announced where they will be seeking nominations.

“Ultimately, it came down to altruistic decisions,” party leader Sandy Silver said Saturday.

“You want to go where you can do the best (job), but you also want to go with where you identify your heart.”

This was the case for MLA-hopeful Tamara Goeppel, who announced she will be seeking the Liberals’ nomination for the riding of Whitehorse Centre.

“I’ve basically been born and raised in that riding,” Goeppel said of her decision, noting that she also chose to raise her sons in the area.

“To be parachuted into a riding where I wouldn’t know the names of the streets ... I felt that wouldn’t be authentic.”

Encompassing all of the downtown, from the Marwell industrial district to the roundabout on Robert Service Way, the Whitehorse Centre riding is currently held by Liz Hanson, the Yukon NDP leader.

“I’ve always been known to look for a challenge,” Goeppel said when asked about possibly running against Hanson.

Former city councillor John Streicker will seek a nomination for the riding of Mount Lorne-Southern Lakes.

If successful in his quest for candidacy, Streicker may encounter a sense of déjà-vu running against NDP incumbent Kevin Barr.

Just four years ago, Streicker was pitted against Barr in the 2011 federal election, won by the Conservatives’ Ryan Leef.

This time running under a different political banner, Streicker commented that he would have his work cut out for him.

“(Barr) is the incumbent now. That’s a distinct advantage always,” Streicker said.

“I will work hard and do the best I can.”

On a similar note, potential Liberal candidate Rod Taylor also made mention of a difficult journey ahead.

Taylor announced at the meeting that he will seek the nomination for Porter Creek Centre.

Having lived in the hamlet of Ibex Valley for a while, Taylor said his decision to try to run in Porter Creek came after his 12-year-old daughter requested that their family move “out of the woods.”

Taylor said that his family will soon be relocating to Porter Creek, where he has many old friends, including some political figures.

If there was a riding to be affiliated with, he said, Porter Creek Centre would be the one.

“It’s going to be difficult,” he said of his potential upcoming campaign.

“It’s a riding that’s been held by the Yukon Party for a long time.”

Porter Creek Centre has been represented by Yukon Party MLAs since 2002. Current MLA David Laxton is a friend of Taylor’s, he added.

“Anybody that thinks that any of this is a cakewalk doesn’t get it,” Taylor said.

“(But) it is what it is... I’m pretty darn excited to get at it.”

The most recent potential candidate to come out of the woodwork is Ramesh Ferris.

At a press conference last Thursday, Ferris announced his intent to run with the Liberals and seek the nomination for the riding of Whitehorse West – another riding grasped by the Yukon Party since 2002.

Incumbent Elaine Taylor has won her seat in three elections, and is now deputy premier.

Ferris himself was also a Yukon Party member until recently.

He said Saturday that reflection during the holidays and conversations with constituents of Whitehorse West led to his decision to leave the Yukon Party and join the Liberals.

“After reflecting, I believe that the Liberal Party truly is more in line with my values and the direction of where Yukoners want to head,” Ferris explained.

If there’s one thing that Silver is attempting to put across to Yukoners, it’s the effect and power that positive politics can have.

“Larry (Bagnell) showed us that locally, and Justin Trudeau showed us that on a national basis,” Silver said.

This month, Silver will take off on a community tour that will take him from Old Crow to Watson Lake.

The annual general meeting is akin to a wrap-up of the year.

Silver, however, wanted to put across that there are several issues he would like to take from policy to platform – most notably, education, energy and a mental health strategy for the territory.

Silver said there are several other potential candidates chomping at the bit to announce their intent to run, but would not say when to expect any further announcements.

The Liberal leader has previously said the party would hold an open nomination, and formal candidates would be decided upon then.

“Stay tuned,” he advised Saturday.