Having spent little more than eight years in Whitehorse, city council candidate Ranj Pillai has built an impressive résumé of local service.

Formerly the Yukon Liberal Party Association president, Pillai currently serves as vice-chair of the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Society of Yukon board, treasurer of the Whitehorse Elementary School Council, director of the Copper Ridge Neighbourhood Association and is a member of the Yukon College board of governors.

This is on top of his teaching job at Yukon College, managing his Northwest Summit Hockey School company and consulting Yukon first nations on economic development.

"I think having the ability to work with community organizations while working in my private businesses and being an educator gives me a diverse set of skills and, I have a good understanding of most of issues that city deals with on a daily basis,” Pillai says.

After graduating with a degree in history and economics, Pillai headed north and landed in Whitehorse in 2001 "to take advantage of opportunities in the education field.”

By all accounts, Pillai's work in the education field has been a success; Yukon College curricula that he developed – one for youth at risk and another for aging workers – are rated among the most successful programs receiving federal funding.

Life on the home front has been a success as well, as Pillai decided to make Whitehorse his permanent address. Since then, the 35-year-old has gotten married and has two young boys.

Pleased with his accomplishments and now with a young family to look after, Pillai wants to expand his responsibilities to include a role on city council.

His motivation to run in next week's election is based on several concerns.

"I think this is the greatest city in Canada to be living in but some of the decisions by city council have really concerned me ... and over the last number of years, the progression of our city can be questioned in a number of different areas,” he says.

"Specifically, looking at financial accountability, true sustainability and better communication with the taxpayer.”

Getting more money out of the Yukon government is another touchstone for Pillai, who believes Whitehorse is getting shortchanged among other communities.

The council candidate also wants to see living made more affordable in the Yukon's capital city.

"We have the Yukon government spending millions of dollars to promote our tourism sector and at the same time, where are all the people that work in tourism sector going to live with the wages that they make?” he asks.

"Tourism complains about retention, but people are using tourism jobs as a stepping stone ... nobody is going to stay in that industry if there's not opportunities to have a quality of life.”