Whitehorse Daily Star

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CHANGING POLITICAL ARENAS – After five years in the Yukon legislature, David Laxton wants to begin a career in municipal politics.

Ex-Yukon Party MLA eyes seat on council

A former Speaker of the Yukon legislature wants a seat on city council.

By Whitehorse Star on August 16, 2018

A former Speaker of the Yukon legislature wants a seat on city council.

David Laxton, a long-time resident of Porter Creek, announced today he is running for council in the Oct. 18 election.

 “I’m very pleased to put my name forward,” he said in a statement.

“Whitehorse has given me so much, from a wonderful place to live and work to a community that challenges me every day to make it better.”

Laxton co-owns Plantation Flowers & Gifts in downtown Whitehorse.

He spent 22 years in the military, including peacekeeping tours in war zones.

He has given countless hours as a volunteer in several organizations.

“Serving on city council is yet another way to contribute, especially where urban issues touch us so personally,” he said.

The statement about his candidacy added: “Dave knows that every time we turn on our tap water, flush our toilets, put out our garbage, wait for a bus, look for a parking spot, hike a city trail, or drive down a newly-plowed street, we have an expectation that these basic amenities, paid for by our hard-earned tax dollars, will not only continue but improve in quality and efficiency.

“He also knows that every time we stand together at a community event, take part in a town hall meeting, volunteer for a cause, or help out a passing stranger, we have an expectation that this is what it takes to make Whitehorse even more strong and vibrant because differing views, tempered with a generosity of spirit, bring us together.

“It is what our civic leaders must reflect and exemplify in their stewardship of this wonderful wilderness city.”

As a resident, Laxton said, he shares these expectations.

“It’s why, as a city councillor, I’ll work very hard to make sure they’re met in the most responsible and sustainable manner possible.”

He added that he welcomes working with the next mayor and fellow councillors “in a collegial forum, because meeting these expectations first requires healthy, informed debate.”

Laxton was the unsuccessful Liberal party candidate for Porter Creek Centre in the 2006 territorial election, losing to the Yukon Party’s Archie Lang.

Laxton switched to the Yukon Party for the 2011 election and won the seat, becoming Speaker of the legislature while Darrell Pasloski sat as premier.

In October 2017, Laxton was acquitted of a charge of sexual assault stemming from his kissing a woman in the Yukon Government Main Administration Building in February 2016.

Territorial Judge John Faulkner concluded that he found reasonable doubt about the charges and questioned the complainant’s credibility.

Laxton had resigned as Speaker and had left the Yukon Party caucus to sit as an independent in May 2016. He publicly mused about running in the November 2016 election, but ultimately opted not to.

The other candidates for council are incumbent Roslyn Woodcock, former councillor Mike Gladish and local residents Steve Roddick and Laura Cabbot. Others are expected to publicly announce in the coming weeks.

The mayoral candidates are incumbent Dan Curtis, Rick Karp and Wilf Carter.

Comments (19)

Up 2 Down 1

Scott Etches on Aug 27, 2018 at 4:41 pm

I have always appreciated the fact that Municipal government is traditionally not a political beast of the parties.

Questions for Council Candidate Laxton. Will you be able to drop your preconceptions based on a party ideologue and make decisions for the best interests of the community by considering all options? If the left wing was always correct then there would be no right wing. If the right wing was always right then there would be left. An eagle cannot fly with only one wing.

Another question would be that your electing constituency will mostly be from the party dispositions of your past. How can you support party-ideology alternative solutions when your base has an expectation for you to support your past biases?

Up 4 Down 3

drum on Aug 22, 2018 at 7:00 pm

Good man whose reputation was destroyed. He gets my vote.

Up 8 Down 5

Joe M. on Aug 21, 2018 at 6:22 pm

Mr. Laxton should be familiar with these issues going in not a promise to read up on them.

Up 8 Down 4

woodcutter on Aug 21, 2018 at 4:37 pm

@ mad max
You should go to the 98, I am sure a couple of us would be your candidate of choice. Belly up to the bar and ring the bell, you might even become a candidate.

Up 25 Down 15

Ginger Johnson on Aug 20, 2018 at 8:38 am

A product of Darrell Pasloski Party politics is NOT what Whitehorse City Council needs going forward

Up 14 Down 13

Ilove Parks on Aug 19, 2018 at 7:14 pm

Yes. I hope he remembers what it was like before we got more and more transfer payments and then the old guard moved into entitlement mode.
I think he will get along well with Rick if Rick is elected as mayor.

I doubt he needs the money so he is doing it for public service.

Up 31 Down 12

Max Mack on Aug 19, 2018 at 12:38 am

My vote will go to the politician who stands pat on all manner of revenue gouging: tax hikes, utility hikes, service fee hikes, penalty/fine hikes, etc. Especially, I will vote for the person that says no to city enforcement of "moving violations" and photo radar.

I will vote for the individual who is willing to challenge the city bureaucrats and planners who seem to be actually running the city. I will vote for the person who wants to maintain the historically rough and tumble character of Whitehorse, the person that doesn't think densification and recycling are virtues.

I will gladly vote for someone who remembers what Whitehorse and the Yukon was like before it was over-run with southerners from the big city.

Up 3 Down 42

Dean LaRue on Aug 18, 2018 at 4:58 pm

Dave Stockdale is the ONLY Yukon politician that I want to see make a comeback.

Up 11 Down 17

Kiss&Tell on Aug 18, 2018 at 12:47 am

Let’s take all the tires in the Yukon, retread them, put Armour All on them and pretend they have virtue.

Up 17 Down 19

Yukon Watchdog on Aug 17, 2018 at 4:43 pm

How do you spell integrity? D A V E L A X T O N ! You've got my vote for sure.

Up 27 Down 13

Just Sayin' on Aug 17, 2018 at 3:09 pm

@bandit

Everyone had/has dirty laundry. If one is in the limelight it gets aired, if one is not, it becomes gossip. In a small town, everyone is famous. Put your real name down and let's see what dirty laundry you have. Like myself, anonymity allows me to freely comment without harming my reputation.

Up 20 Down 26

Bob Ablanalp on Aug 17, 2018 at 12:50 pm

SIGH - I was hoping that we'd heard the last of the Pasloski Gang
self-serving failures

NEW BLOOD PLEASE

Up 21 Down 30

ProScience Greenie on Aug 17, 2018 at 11:05 am

Err, Mr. Laxton, just retire and stay out of the limelight please. It would be best for everybody.

Up 37 Down 10

I nominate you! on Aug 17, 2018 at 8:45 am

@Cactus Face Elmer - why don't you run then? At least he's putting his name forward for this thankless job.

Up 29 Down 12

Whitehorse Resident on Aug 17, 2018 at 8:38 am

This Guy and his wife saved our buts on Aishihik lake a few years back. He has definitely got my vote!

Up 18 Down 30

Bandit on Aug 17, 2018 at 8:22 am

Not a chance. Too much dirty laundry with this one. Google his name and too much negative. Move on Dave, this town is too small for people to forget some of your shenanigans.

Up 30 Down 17

Ilove Parks on Aug 16, 2018 at 7:49 pm

Mr. Laxton is a very honourable man who will bring a great deal to council.

Up 19 Down 29

Hugh Mungus on Aug 16, 2018 at 4:24 pm

I don't think so Dave.

Anyone thinking about voting for this guy should just google his name.

Up 35 Down 34

Cactus Face Elmer on Aug 16, 2018 at 2:05 pm

PFFFFT - another "old blood" professional politician and a Party hopper to boot

NOT getting my vote

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