‘I feel amazing,’ says beaming mayor-designate

The first order of business for the city’s next mayor will be to help make a team of the group elected to council Thursday.

The first order of business for the city’s next mayor will be to help make a team of the group elected to council Thursday.

Coming into the council chambers last night surrounded by a team of supporters, the life-long Yukoner smiled and held up his and wife Mona’s arm in victory as applause broke out and cameras flashed for photos of the next mayor.

Curtis stayed away from city hall through much of the long evening, while other council candidates and mayoral-hopefuls streamed in to watch the late-night results.

“I feel amazing,” Curtis told reporters when he finally arrived after 10 p.m.

His excitement was clear as he credited a strong team in helping to run a campaign against four “really, really good candidates.”

Curtis, who will soon turn 47 and a father of two teenaged boys, said he had “nothing but respect” for the others who ran against him.

In the end, Curtis walked away with 2,375 votes – or 43 per cent of the ballots cast.

Curtis’ closest competitor was Rick Karp, the first candidate to launch a mayoral campaign, who took 1,100 votes.

The two shook hands shortly after Curtis arrived at city hall last night, congratulating one another on their campaigns.

Bernie Phillips placed third with 988 votes, followed by Scott Howell with 587 and finally Mandeep Sidhu with 480 votes.

A total of 99 mayoral ballots were rejected.

While all the results weren’t in by the time Curtis and his supporters made it to city hall after all the other mayoral candidates had arrived, Curtis was the clear winner. He led in every poll, from the advance poll (with 190 votes compared to Karp’s 99) onward.

“I was not confident at all,” Curtis said of what he thought his chances were earlier that day.

He said he is pleased to have earned the trust of Whitehorse residents and wants to keep that trust in the coming years.

Throughout his campaign, he said, he tried to be honourable, not making any “grandiose” promises he wouldn’t be able to deliver on.

“We do have limitations, but we can go a long way,” he told reporters, noting he will bring his skills as a team leader to city hall.

He said many of the potential solutions to city issues can be found within the community.

“Many of the solutions are here,” he said.

Curtis kicked off his campaign in July. He became the second mayoral candidate to announce, after Karp.

The executive director for Skills Canada Yukon, Curtis focused much of his campaign on partnership and collaboration.

Among those partnerships, he proposed working with recycling firms in town to explore ways to divert more waste from the landfill. He suggested exploring possible programs like curbside blue box recycling pickup as well as options for businesses to recycle more, and looking at how other jurisdictions handle such programs.

The mayor-designate also stressed his commitment to Whitehorse.

He took a strong stance on the proposed development for Porter Creek D in the McIntyre Creek area when candidates were questioned about it by a number of local groups, stating that “yes,” he would oppose development.

“I fear the planning and development of McIntyre Creek would have an adverse effect on private developers and the investment they have made to address the Whitehorse housing shortage,” he said.

As he moves into his new role, Curtis said his biggest challenge will be getting to know his team.

He noted the reality of being the city’s next mayor had not sunk in yet.

That team will likely be made up of incumbents Betty Irwin, Kirk Cameron, Dave Stockdale along with newcomers John Streicker and Mike Gladish.

With only a two-vote difference between Gladish (who took 1,534 votes) and Roslyn Woodcock (who snared 1,532) for the final sixth council seat, a recount is being done today. It’s expected to take the full day, returning officer Norma Felker said this morning.

As of last night, Curtis said it appeared council would be a good mix of incumbents and “new blood.”

Departing Mayor Bev Buckway, who didn’t run Thursday, agrees.

“It looks like what I’d call a balanced council,” she said, adding the incumbents offer a good background, especially at a time when the city has a new city manager. (Stan Westby was hired earlier this year to replace former city manager Dennis Shewfelt, who retired).

“It looks like a good, solid group,” she said, pointing out that Curtis – “another long-time Yukoner” – brings a good background of experience with non-profits, boards and the like to council chambers.

“I think he’ll be an excellent candidate (for the next mayor),” she said.

With the swearing-in of the new council set for Oct. 29, Buckway said she is planning to spend as much time with Curtis as he needs to get ready for the position, including possibly getting together with him today.

That will have to happen before he heads out of town on Skills Canada Yukon business that had already been scheduled.

Buckway commented she’s comfortable leaving her role knowing there’s a solid group to take the city forward.

Westby said the first big project for the incoming council will be the strategic planning exercise new council members do to focus on what their mandate will be over the next three years.

An orientation day and workshop for the new council is planned, Westby said.

“Win or lose,” he said, he applauds everyone who put their name forward in this election.

Municipal council terms in the Yukon last three years.

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