DAWSON CITY There will be an election for a new council in Dawson on June 15, but the mayor's office has been filled by acclamation.

John Steins, a local artist, as well as the host and founder of the cityofdawson.com discussion form, was the only person to file nomination papers for the mayor's position.

That came much to the surprise of many, who were expecting former mayor and current MLA Peter Jenkins to attempt a municipal comeback.

Jenkins had hinted at this when he left the territorial government to sit as an independent last November.

However, on Thursday, the day nominations closed, he told the Star he was not running, citing a lackluster financial recovery package from the government as one of his major concerns.

Several individuals, including some now running for council seats and some not running at all, had indicated they would run against Jenkins if he should contest the mayor's office.

Dawson's last council was elected in October 2003 and removed by the government due to financial mismanagement in April 2004.

The terms of its restoration are substantially the same as those recommended two years ago by financial supervisor Andre Carrel, the man who advised the government to pull the plug here.

Attention will now shift to the list of 13 candidates who are running for the four councillor positions.

From the YTG-appointed trustee's advisory committee, Frank Narozny and retired dentist Helmut Schoener are running. Narozny has run unsuccessfully in the past, while Schoener was a councillor some 20 years ago.

From the Dawson City Citizens' Action Committee, which spent this winter lobbying for elections, there are Guy Chan and Ashley Doiron.

Chan ran against former mayor Glen Everitt in 2003 and has operated several businesses in town. Doiron works at Yukon College, owns Whitehouse Cabins with her partner, and is the president of the revitalized Dawson City Community Radio Society.

Other candidates include Cam Sinclair, a former social worker; Torben Larson, a Yukon Energy employee; Adam Morrison, a helicopter pilot with Trans North Air; Gary Larson, a planner employed by the Tr'ond'k Hw'ch'in First Nation; Diana Andrews, owner of The Dancing Moose; and Byrun Shandler, a retired Parks Canada employee and three-time former councillor.

After some expressions of concern over a lack of first nations involvement, three Tr'ond'k Hw'ch'in names are on the ballot.

Percy Henry, a respected elder and former chief of the first nation, is joined by Ed Kormendy, who works in the first nation's lands department and James Roberts, also a first nation employee.

Advance polls will be held on June 8, with the election on June 15. So far, there is no word on the timing of a candidates' forum.