The Whitehorse municipal election wrapped up last night with Mayor Dan Curtis once again being elected as mayor with 2,933 votes.

There are three fresh faces: Steve Roddick (3,115), Laura Cabott (2,752) and Jan Stick (3,946).

Those returning to their roles are Dan Boyd (2,378), Jocelyn Curteanu (2,460) and Samson Hartland (2,548).

Reached by the Star this morning, Boyd said he was excited to be chosen once again to serve, and commended all those who ran.

“I think it’s refreshing; the community wanted some change,” said Boyd, who will serve his second consecutive and fourth term in total on council.

“There’s some turnover, and the community likes to mix it up a little bit.”

As for priority items on the members’ agenda, he hopes housing, transit and the Official Community Plan will be top of mind for his colleagues.

“There’s growth in our community, that creates challenges.

“I will venture to say that I think that the plan there will have a big focus on what can be done to address affordable housing, the full spectrum of affordable housing,” he added.

Receiving praise was Roddick, from founding president of the Whistle Bend Community Association Darrell Hookey – who received 794 votes.

Reacting to Roddick placing second in votes received (behind only Stick), Hookey said this morning there’s somebody on council for everyone.

“I don’t think he won because of his relationship with Jan – I think he won because he’s young, he’s passionate, business-smart and socially aware.”

Acknowledging the age and experience difference, Hookey commended the 33-year-old for running an on-the-ground campaign that aimed at engaging different crowds.

“That’s what councillors do; they represent the people.

“And he can do that for people that I can’t – because my age, my experience,” he laughed.

For his part, Hookey said he was slightly surprised that he didn’t do a bit better, but is taking time now to reflect on why that is.

“In retrospect, maybe I should have kept my platform more generic,” he said, before pausing to reflect. “But I don’t think even knowing that I would’ve changed how I approached it.”

The ideas he brought forward may not have been as important to the electorate as he thought, he said: “and rightly so, I wasn’t elected – and that’s part of the process.

“But I think the city got the council that they want – it’s a good day for democracy.”

Candidate David Laxton, who finished 13th out of 20 with 910 votes, echoed Hookey’s statements, congratulating the council and Curtis.

“In my view, he’s been doing a great job up till now and I don’t see him changing from that,” he said this morning, before adding he and Curtis have been friends over many years.

“We can’t all win, which is unfortunate, but that’s the way it is.”

As for council members, Laxton – a former Yukon Party MLA – said he wasn’t totally surprised.

“You need to have that corporate knowledge at the same time,” he said when asked about some of the new faces.

While Stick is not an incumbent, he noted, she brings experience as both a former councillor during the mid-2000s and an NDP MLA.

“It’s not a good thing to wipe our entire council – having a (mix) of new and old is important,” Laxton said. He estimated the split would have been about four incumbents and two new councillors. “But three-three is pretty good, it’s a nice split.”

He hopes council will pay close attention when looking at the new Official Community Plan “because it’s all-encompassing” in addressing pertinent issues like the housing shortage.

As for what’s next for him, Laxton said he’s got his eyes peeled for more civic engagement opportunities with his wife, Leslie. “Maybe I’ll start being a bit more active with the Legion – or look at boards or committees.

“We’ll see what happens – I’m not going anywhere,” he said.

Cory Adams, who finished 14th with 886 votes, congratulated those voted in and said he wouldn’t rule out another run in a couple years. “But that’s a long ways away.

“Winter is coming, make sure sidestreets are done,” he laughed when asked about immediate priority items he hopes the city will address.

Another candidate, Jim Cahill, finished with 446 votes.

“I’ll carry on with life,” he said this morning, noting he wasn’t necessarily “running to win.

“I didn’t expect to even come close to winning,” he said, noting his main purpose was to draw attention to issues he felt should have been revisited.

“These things were already dealt with years ago but because the city has grown and the population has changed; I thought these things should be revisited.”

The candidate that just missed out on that sixth and final position was Danny Macdonald, who drew in 2,083 votes.

Reached this morning, he said that while he was disappointed to have not gotten a seat, he was grateful for the support received both during the campaign and after the results came down.

Financial stability and accountability for the city were important considerations in his campaign, something Macdonald hoped the new council would carry forward in the coming months.

“But they do have their work cut out for them,” he said, adding the responsibility of providing services to residents also comes with keeping an eye on ongoing tax increases.

“I’d like to see council definitely work on that because that just help people make better decisions and better commentary – when you have better access to information.”

Noting the duo of Stick and Roddick, Macdonald commended the pair for campaigning together.

“It’s the first time you’ve seen that tandem pair run, almost as a slate – the first time that’s surfaced.”

He said it had left many wondering how it would impact the results.

“It was very successful and effective way to campaign, because they were obviously leading the way the whole night.

“And kudos to them.”

Meanwhile, Andrew Smith received 835 votes – so his 16th placing was not surprising.

“I recognized from the outset that I was a long-shot in this,” he said this morning. He noted it was important that he get the message out about pressure the younger crowd in the city were facing.

“Housing solutions not focused on specifically one socioeconomic area” was top of mind for him, something he hoped would carry forward with those elected.

Smith added that included creating conditions for young adults to be able to own their homes “instead of renting – that’s a big one.”

As for what he’ll turn his attention to, Smith explained it’s much of the same.

“I fully expect I’ll be vocal on that angle,” he laughed. “I can guarantee you that Whitehorse and Yukon politics has not seen the last of Andrew Smith.”

Also not ruling out another run down the road was Leonard Boniface, who pulled in 629 votes after announcing his candidacy just weeks before the election.

“I take it in a positive way that there’s always next time - change doesn’t come overnight.”

Boniface had campaigned on ensuring the Canada Games Centre was adequately staffed and providing programming for kids as well as affordable child care seven days a week.

“I’ll keep raising issues, voicing change for young people,” he said, noting he was also pleased with the number of voters that turned out.

Above Boniface in the rankings was Oshea Jephson, a one-time radio reporter in the city who received the support of 1,283 voters.

“I guess it just wasn’t my year,” he said this morning, but he was happy with the diversity of younger voices and experienced ones with more “wisdom.”

He congratulated Curtis on another (record) third term.

“Dan has been a good mayor – when I covered him as a reporter, he doesn’t promise the world,” Jephson said, adding he believes the city is in good hands.

“The city knows what they’re getting.”

He hopes the cycling infrastructure is given consideration, along with the city’s transit master plan.

He will now take a couple days to step back from what he called an “exhausting campaign,” but will continue his role with the territorial Department of Highways and Public Works.

Another unsuccessful contender was outgoing councillor Roslyn Woodcock, who ended the night with 1,614 votes after previously serving as councillor.

In a written statement to the Star this morning, she wished the incoming council luck “in the enormous task before them.”

The councillor added she is happy that Curtis will be serving another term, under the support of city manager Linda Rapp and other staff.

Kim Lisgo, a first-time candidate who drew 862 votes, said she was looking forward to trying again in three years.

In a statement, she thanked residents for the “respectful way that Whitehorse citizens interacted with candidates at public events,” and congratulated both Roddick and Stick.

“I feel that they best represent my values and will have their eyes on the ball when it comes to global warming.”

Scott Etches (239 votes) could not be reached in time for today’s publication.

Long-time councillor Betty Irwin (who was ousted with 1,969 votes) declined comment on her fate this morning.