Photo by Vince Fedoroff
Patti Balsillie and Laura Cabott
Local race features three for mayor, 17 for council
Five of the Yukon’s eight municipal mayors are seeking re-election on Oct. 21 while three are not, including Whitehorse Mayor Dan Curtis.
Five of the Yukon’s eight municipal mayors are seeking re-election on Oct. 21 while three are not, including Whitehorse Mayor Dan Curtis.
Of the five seeking re-election, Teslin Mayor Gord Curran is the only one to be acclaimed.
The list of nominations for mayor and the council positions in the eight municipalities, however, is unofficial until noon Monday, the end of the 96-hour cooling-off period during which candidates can withdraw their names.
The names of all nominees not withdrawn will appear on the ballots.
Also acclaimed as the next mayor for Mayo is Trevor Ellis, who will replace Mayor Scott Bolton. Bolton has served five full terms and half a term after being elected in a 2004 byelection.
Carmacks Mayor Lee Bodie is seeking a third term. Contesting the position is incumbent Coun. Tara Wheeler.
Faro Mayor Leonard Faber is campaigning for a second term, running against incumbent Coun. Lisa Snyder and Jack Bowers.
Mayor Frank Thomas Eckervogt of Haines Junction is seeking a second term, running against incumbent Coun. Katherine Johnston and Bruce Tomlin.
Watson Lake Mayor Christopher Irvin is running for a second term, challenged by Justin Brown.
Aside from Curtis, who has served three terms, and Bolton, Dawson Mayor Wayne Potoroka is not seeking re-election after serving three terms (see story, p. 5).
The position for mayor of the Yukon’s capital is being contested by three candidates: Incumbent councillors Samson Hartland and Laura Cabott, and Patti Balsillie, the first to put her name forward.
Whitehorse returning officer Norma Felker drew the names of the three candidates for mayor, and the 17 candidates for the six councillor positions on Thursday, right after the period for nominations closed at noon. The names of the candidates will appear on the ballot in the order they were drawn.
Running for the six seats on Whitehorse city councillor in the order they will appear on the ballot are: Eileen Melnychuk, Noah Curtis, Telek Rogan, Mellisa Murray, Kelsey Hassard-Gammel, former city councillor Kirk Cameron, Michelle Stimson, Cam Kos, former councillor Doug Graham, Ted Laking, Robin Reid-Fraser, incumbent Coun. Jocelyn Curteanu, Michelle Friesen, Dave Blottner, Michelle Christensen-Toews, Jana Swales and incumbent Coun. Dan Boyd.
Felker noted the three candidates for mayor of Whitehorse is fewer than the five who ran in the 2018 municipal elecion, and the 17 candidates for council is fewer than the 20 who ran in the last election.
In the 2015 municipal elections, there were three candidates for mayor of Whitehorse and 22 for council.
Felker said there will be two advance polls for the Whitehorse municipal election, the first being Thursday, Oct. 14, exactly a week before the general election. The second will be held on Saturday, Oct. 16.
Felker said voters will have to show proper identification which includes an address in the City of Whitehorse.
Voters need to be 18 or older, and a Canadian citizen who has lived in Whitehorse for at least one year.
There will be 10 polling stations on Oct. 21.
Running for one of the four councillor positions in Carmacks are: incumbent Coun. Helena Belanger, incumbent Coun. Lorraine Graham, Kevin Unterschute, Justin Lachance, John Jr. Laughlin and Doris Hansen.
The four councillors acclaimed in Dawson are: Alexander Somerville, Patrik Pikalek, Elizabeth Archbold and Brennan Lister.
Running for one of the four councillor positions in Faro are: Sarah McHugh, Leif Nyland, Russell Truman, Taylor Fetterly and Paul Medrid.
All three councillors who put their name forward in Haines Junction have been acclaimed.
They are Angie Charlebois, Vicky Maynes and Mark Nassiopoulos.
The municipality has extended the nomination period for the fourth seat on council until Sept. 29. Nomination papers can be filed between 10 a.m. and noon on Sept. 29.
The four candidates for council in Mayo have been acclaimed.
They are incumbent Coun. Blair Andre, Simeon Paschuk, incumbent Coun. Jo-Ann Aird and Brent Chapman.
Running for one of the four councillor positions in Teslin are: Luc Johnston, incumbent Coun. Juanita Kremer, Jeff Myke, Jenny Roberts and incumbent Coun. Trevor Sallis.
Running for one of the four councillor positions in Watson Lake are: Dale Burdes, Beckie Ann Lussier, incumbent Coun. Thomas Slager, incumbent Coun. Lauren Hanchar and Denina Paquette.
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Comments (31)
Up 1 Down 0
North_of_60 on Sep 30, 2021 at 11:47 pm
"The last person to trust with power is someone who is dying to have it. The best person to wield power is someone who is reluctant to do so, but who will do it for a while as a civic duty. That is why term limits should make it impossible to have a whole career in politics." -Thomas Sowell
Up 10 Down 4
Lost In the Yukon on Sep 30, 2021 at 3:44 pm
At last a conservative leaning fiscally responsible council is in the offing … Samson, Dan, Ted, Doug, Kirk, Michelle
Up 12 Down 27
Obi on Sep 29, 2021 at 11:57 am
Speaking as a male, I think that Whitehorse could use a female Mayor this time around. She would address things from a different perspective, and in these trying times that would be very helpful. I will vote for Patti.
Up 24 Down 11
So... on Sep 28, 2021 at 7:04 pm
@BB, let us guess. You probably thought Dan Curtis was the best mayor too? All Laura Cabott is going to do is push the Lieberal agenda!
Up 2 Down 11
My Opinion on Sep 28, 2021 at 3:00 pm
@wes
Soooo by that standard do you see your comment as positive or are only some allowed opinion in your world?
Up 11 Down 26
BB on Sep 28, 2021 at 2:07 pm
Laura Cabott has been very generous with her time and money, sponsoring events and volunteering at them, for years. Not just inside the city of Whitehorse either. That goes a long way to establishing her legitimacy for me, in terms of her being genuinely interested in contributing to her community.
I would be interested in hearing how each candidate has volunteered, served on boards, and supported other just to get an idea of whether they have a real sense of civic duty, or whether this is just business and a job for them, and 'status'.
I also would like the mayor to be smart and organized so she is able to be kind of the 'CEO' of the city. It's not a job for a bumpkin. They have to work with the bureaucracy and direct them, but first and foremost they are the representative for the people of Whitehorse to the bureaucracy.
Up 22 Down 12
North_of_60 on Sep 28, 2021 at 12:47 pm
I agree with Max Mack, and would like to see which candidates are NOT pushing the faux Climate-Change™ agenda. They will be at the top of my "vote-for" list. I will vote for candidates who have practical solutions to the real problems we need to address. Issues like the lack of affordable building lots, downtown traffic congestion, deteriorating infrastructure, and the increase in property crime.
Up 3 Down 3
YukonMax on Sep 28, 2021 at 7:00 am
"Faro Mayor Leonard Faber is campaigning for a second term, running against incumbent Coun. Lisa Snyder and Jack Bowers."
Wow! Just Wow!... Just more of the same.
And I can suggest a by-election soon after for a councilor unable to push his/her agenda.
Up 16 Down 25
Nathan Living on Sep 27, 2021 at 8:43 pm
I do not see Josey Wales as being overly negative, he is often humourous and the voice of reason.
Up 10 Down 4
My Opinion on Sep 27, 2021 at 8:03 pm
@ no parties
You could be a little less uncivil. I don't believe he disparaged your education did he? Is that the way you would talk in person? I think I know the answer.
Up 13 Down 3
My Opinion on Sep 27, 2021 at 7:57 pm
@ No Parties
There may not be parties but there certainly are agendas. With so many running it is very difficult to get enough info to have an idea of their character and their agendas. The more info we can get the better.
Up 13 Down 15
bonanzajoe on Sep 27, 2021 at 5:13 pm
Wes. That's the nice thing about democracy - Freedom of Speech. But that is being eroded and will finally be taken away by the Marxist socialists - Liberals, NDP, and Greens.
Up 3 Down 8
bonanzajoe on Sep 27, 2021 at 5:10 pm
My last comment was for No Parties, not Stephen.
Up 9 Down 12
bonanzajoe on Sep 27, 2021 at 5:09 pm
Stephen: So, you voted for all the left wing socialist parties over your lifetime. The only difference between them is the name. There ideological perspective is basically the same. Try leaning right for once. There are two right wing parties now - Conservative and People's Party.
Up 8 Down 11
bonanzajoe on Sep 27, 2021 at 5:05 pm
Stephen: First, it is not our job to come up with political solutions. That's up to the politicians who have been elected and entrusted with the job. It's our job as citizens and tax payers to keep them to account. Secondly, as a history buff, I discovered many people in pre war Germany, voted for Adolph Hitler, not the party. Guess where that went.
Up 7 Down 7
bonanzajoe on Sep 27, 2021 at 4:59 pm
No Parties: Municipal governments may not be divided along party lines, but, they still govern according to their own political ideology. If they are running for municipal government, they should state their party affiliation.
Up 23 Down 12
Max Mack on Sep 27, 2021 at 4:50 pm
Please name the candidates that don't have "climate change" at the top of their priority list.
I will strongly consider voting for those folks. Enough of the insanity.
Up 27 Down 14
Wes on Sep 27, 2021 at 4:13 pm
Josey, you're entitled to your opinions, even though they are entirely without merit. You never offer anything positive or helpful, just more miserable, cynical nonsense.
Up 33 Down 19
I agree on Sep 27, 2021 at 4:04 pm
I agree Samwise. Whitehorse does NOT need another Lieberal Mayor. Do Not vote for Cabott, another Lieberal.
Up 38 Down 12
We all know how this ends on Sep 27, 2021 at 1:27 pm
I expect Hartland will win by a landslide.
Up 12 Down 21
Josey Wales on Sep 27, 2021 at 1:13 pm
Hey Stephen...I often offer solutions, you just choose not to digest them or they may offend you.
Good attempt at a discredit however.
Maybe next time?
Up 19 Down 6
No parties on Sep 27, 2021 at 11:51 am
@ Samwise Steele
Not everyone fits into your imagined pigeon holes. Over the decades I’ve voted Rhino, NDP, Green but usually Liberal. I wouldn’t put myself as being ANY of those things permanently. Some issues l lean right on (crime) some I lean left on (many social issues)
You honestly think a city councillor should just vote along party lines even if an great idea presented doesn’t fit within a party manifesto from Ottawa?
Up 24 Down 14
Samwise Steele on Sep 27, 2021 at 11:14 am
@no parties
I don’t think the poster was suggesting that the candidates are running under a banner, they just wish to know which party they are affiliated with. This is a legitimate question as Curtis ran as a Liberal in downtown and Hanley, who was in a position of tremendous public trust and expected to give apolitical advice, also turned out to be a Liberal.
Up 31 Down 14
stephen on Sep 27, 2021 at 8:05 am
I find it interesting reading comments from bonanzajoe, Josey Wales and others that just criticize all the time without offering solutions. If you don't like who is running then run yourselves. Oh, I get it you won't like being criticized then.
I have to agree with No parties, I vote based on the candidate not the party. If all you do is vote based on the colour of the party that is really interesting.
Up 37 Down 4
Nathan Living on Sep 26, 2021 at 5:32 pm
Has anyone had to deal with City staff? It's incredibly frustrating to deal with city staff!
Seems to me that council should be more active to ensure city workers are dealing in an appropriate manner with taxpayers who are their bosses after all.
Up 29 Down 12
No parties on Sep 25, 2021 at 6:54 pm
@bonanzajoe
Had you been paying attention in grade 8 Civics you’d know that municipal politics isn’t divided along party lines.
This is a good thing and should be the case at the territorial level here so leaders can’t ‘whip the vote’. Like an adult, you should be able to freely agree/disagree on a topic regardless of the ‘colour of the hat’ the person is wearing.
Not too hard to believe you’ll just blindly vote for someone based on their hat colour versus the actual words coming out of their mouth.
Oh, how did the Blue guys do in the Fed election? *wink*
Up 49 Down 5
Aurora B. on Sep 25, 2021 at 6:16 pm
I'm astounded (sort of) that Eileen Melnychuk is running for city council....Good Grief!! A few years back she ran for the Liberals and that didn't work so well for her. Then last election she ran for the Yukon Party and that didn't work so well either! I'm waiting for her to run in the next territorial election for the NDP...BUT, meanwhile up to the trough and try to get on City Council. Some people should have in depth background checks (specifically on their so-called "credentials") before they can run for any political office or if they have any outstanding debts owing to people left in their wake.......
Up 13 Down 26
Josey Wales on Sep 25, 2021 at 9:29 am
Hmmm...gotta admit folks, this photo reveals that the COW is in tune and up to speed...never thought I’d ever peck that?
I say so because the “cauldron” appears!
Factoring all the sorcery known and unknown within our hall, the many wicked witches and evil wizards and tainted kings/queens that fed in our trough?
The freakin’ cauldron is the most accurate and appropriate image to equate with our nobility and self proclaimed PC public safety experts.
The place is a compost, and we are asked to participate in the theatre of democracy to select who adds to it, and delegates to turn over the pile?
Hires a delegation committee to form a progressive think tank ( off the scale of ironic) and do sweet f/a...the civic way.
To all seeking the trough, good luck and remember the mantra.
“We are entitled to our entitlements” said virtually every political blowhole...if not to at least themselves.
Up 43 Down 30
Matthew on Sep 25, 2021 at 8:05 am
Hartland for Mayor!!
Up 5 Down 19
No opinion on Sep 24, 2021 at 5:53 pm
Who new villages had mayor's there only two city's Whitehorse and Dawson - Mayo, Carmacks an so on have mayors.
Up 15 Down 39
bonanzajoe on Sep 24, 2021 at 4:45 pm
I think it would be appropriate if those running for Mayor and councilors state their political party. If not, I won't be voting this time. There is only one that I know of, the Party he supports.