After spending years behind the scenes of political campaigns, Laura Cabott is ready to take centre stage this year.

A long-time Whitehorse resident, she announced her candidacy for councillor yesterday, and told the Star Thursday afternoon that the timing is just right.

“I’ve always had an interest in politics,” said the 55-year-old lawyer, who once served as a campaign manager for former mayor Kathy Watson.

“But it’s been mostly kind of behind the scenes and helping people get elected.”

About a year or so ago, though, that changed.

“So many of these issues kept coming up, I thought I’d like to participate as a councillor.”

Among the most pressing concerns Cabott has heard about were transit improvements and a shortage of housing opportunities in the Yukon as a whole.

That problem, she said, could only escalate if the territory grows in population – as it’s expected to.

“We’re a capital city, but also a very small city,” she said, though that may change in the coming years.

Being smaller makes it easier to be “very much connected to all levels of government.”

In terms of transportation, Cabott would advocate for more of a collaborative approach.

“There’s no reason why we can’t be working with other levels of government to address those needs.”

Pointing to the $150-million Whistle Bend continuing care facility that is set to open this October, Cabott said she is grateful for the work that has been done.

Last month, however, it became publicly known that Department of Health and Social Services staff are being asked to open up their homes to incoming workers at the facility.

Cabott said that’s something that could have been avoided by ensuring more land had been available from the get-go.

“We shouldn’t have fallen into that situation,” she said.

Being a relatively smaller city means it could be easier to develop some of those relationships among land owners, developers and governments, she believes.

Working with YG and First Nations, which own land, can mean more quickly developed housing, she added.

Politics isn’t unchartered territory for Cabott: she comes from a long line of family members who’ve set their sights on public service, becoming involved as early as a teen.

With a mother who ran in municipal races in B.C., served on school boards and even ran for a federal seat once, Cabott thanks her for sparking that interest.

Her sister, Lesley, worked as a planner with the City of Whitehorse several years ago. She has now shifted to working with Stantec, after running in the 2006 territorial election for the Liberals in Riverdale North.

Laura Cabott was born and grew up in Maple Ridge, B.C., and headed east to the University of Alberta.

After getting a Bachelors and then a law degree, she moved to Whitehorse in 1992.

She later opened up the law firm Cabott and Cabott with her brother in 2003, and has worked closely with residential school survivors during her time as a lawyer.

She also owned a backpacking and hiking company at one point, which makes her sympathetic to some of the business community’s concerns.

“Small business are really the anchor for a community or neighbourhood,” she said.

Parking space is just one concern she’s heard, she added, along with accessibility, which can always be improved.

As for preparation, Cabott explained she and her team will be engaging with residents, some of whom she already meets during her time on the board of the Whitehorse Food Bank.

“So far, I’ve been meeting people and I get really fired up,” she laughed. “It’s fun.”

With her sights set on council, Cabott assured votersw she would bring a long-term approach to chambers.

“We need to have a vision of where we would like to be,” whether it be 10, 15 or 20 years.

“The city has given me so much in so many ways.”

This year’s election will be held Oct. 18.

See election commentary, letter.