City councillor Laura Cabott announced today her intention to run for mayor in the municipal election this October.

“I want to be your next mayor,” said the long-time Yukon lawyer and business owner.

“Whitehorse is a vibrant, energetic place, and I want to make it even better. I have the vision, the leadership skills and the background to do just that.”

Cabott, 58, said she is running on her long history of community service, business success and her record during her first term on city council.

“I ran for council promising to ‘Work for Whitehorse,’ and I have kept my promise.”

Cabott cites some of her work with fellow councillors and community members that has supported local businesses by introducing a new procurement policy and ensuring local content in many of the city’s requests for proposals.

She said steps to modernize the city’s transit and parking meter systems, an improved wildland fire response and emergency preparedness plan, and densifying housing in key areas are just some of the actions taken during her term on council.

She also cited the continued upgrading of aging infrastructure and ensuring that key wilderness/recreational areas and trails are protected and maintained.

Cabott said she intends to bring new ideas to address key issues as mayor.

“Working with other governments and key stakeholders, I want to tackle the housing shortage, grow our local economy and tourism sector and respond to the challenges of climate change.”

Coun. Samson Hartland has also announced his intention to run for mayor.

Patti Balsillie, a long-time resident with business experience, was the first to announce her candidacy for mayor.

Cabott said her three-year term on council has been a learning curve that has required lots of time and work.

“I had some good support from my fellow councillors,” she said.

She said the term on council, her community and volunteer work and her career as a lawyer for the past 30 years have have given her the skills to lead the city.

She knows the art of collaboration and co-operation, she said.

Tackling the housing shortage was part of her campaign commitment in 2018, and when people ask her what she’s done, she says not enough.

The city, she said, is getting further behind in addressing the housing shortage.

It needs to do something different, she insists.

As mayor, she would commit to completing the update on the Official Community Plan within six months, as much of the work has been done.

Cabott said the city can take more of a leading role in encouraging housing development through providing greater incentives.

The development of the large lot at Fifth Avenue and Rogers Street, for instance, requires a berm running along the escarpment for safety reasons, but a berm would cost $1 million, she said.

She said $1 million is a big expense for a developer.

As a means of encouraging development of that land, the city could build the berm and recover its cost through taxes, she said.

Cabott said supporting the Kwanlin Dun First Nation as it brings its settlement lands to the housing market through long-term lease agreements is essential.

Long-term lease agreements for housing on First Nation land is common in areas down south, she said.

Through her leadership roles chairing multiple boards and committees, working with First Nations and volunteering her time, Cabott said, she has demonstrated that she gets things done.

“I enjoy working with people to find practical solutions,” she said. “I want to make a real difference.”

Cabott said over the next few months, more details regarding her platform will be released on her social media network.

Mayor Dan Curtis said earlier this year he is not seeking re-election.