Ed. note: on this and the next two pages, reporter Tim Giilck analyzes the efforts of the leaders of the three parties contesting Monday’s territorial election. See pages 18 to 22 for a variety of letters and columns on the campaigns.

Sandy Silver says his mission to serve the Yukon isn’t finished yet.

Silver, the leader of the Yukon Liberal Party and incumbent premier, took part in a wide-ranging interview with the Star on Tuesday afternoon.

The conversation covered the gamut from why he thinks he and his party should be re-elected to discussing what motivates him.

“I’m a community volunteer at heart,” he said.

Silver, while not born in the Yukon, is a longtime resident of Dawson City. He was a teacher there for a number of years before moving into the political arena. The town and region have clearly carved a treasured spot in his heart that’s obvious when you speak to him.

It comes as a bit of a surprise to hear that, since Silver’s public persona is fairly reserved, detached or possibly even a bit aloof.

At times, Silver is a bit more affable, but he certainly isn’t as ebullient as political rival Kate White of the NDP.

He might even suffer a little in affability sweepstakes to Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon, but it wouldn’t be a good idea to underestimate him and the loyalty he commands amongst his fans.

On Tuesday, he was plainly in a pleasant mood, but as always with Silver, there was the potential for a flash of irritation. He’s not quite as even-tempered as he seems, but that can be a helpful trait in politics.

The party is vying to become the first Liberal administration to win back-to-back elections, which makes this campaign a potentially historic occasion.

“This has been the honour of my life to be premier and to serve the Klondike,” Silver said. “It’s been a long road to get here, but I want to keep this momentum going.”

Silver began his territorial political career in 2011 when he and the late Darius Elias were the sole representatives of the party in the legislature.

Elias eventually bolted for independence and the Yukon Party, leaving Silver as the sole surviving Liberal representative.

He’s been largely responsible for rebuilding the party and leading it to a fresh bout of success 16 years after the first-ever Yukon Liberal administration was elected.

As with the rival NDP, the Liberals have historically been a political side-note to the dominant Yukon Party.

Traditionally, Yukoners have been staunchly conservative overall, something the other parties in this election should be wary of.

Silver said the strategy for this campaign has been a simple one... and it’s been fairly obvious to the public.

“We’re running on our track record,” he said. “That’s the way it should be.”

If you’re a political animal, one of the fascinating things in this election campaign has been a case of role reversal between the Yukon Liberals and the Yukon Party.

The established Liberals are acting in a very similar way to a Conservative Party, looking to the past and talking up the way things have been moreso than providing a forward-thinking vision.

The Yukon Party, by contrast, seems as if Dixon is dragging it toward the centre of the political spectrum. Even its campaign slogan, “Action for a Change”, is strikingly different than normal.

That was the one question that Silver bristled over, and prompted further discussion until he appeared to understand the point better.

“I completely disagree with that,” he said with a touch of irritation as soon as the question was asked.

He said his perception of politics is perhaps a bit different than normal. He’s not a political scientist, he said, and his focus is intensely local.

Silver, somewhat predictably, preferred to look at the strange change of affairs between the parties as the Yukon Party drifting deliberately to the centre more so than the Liberals shuffling right.

He was insistent on describing himself as a political moderate in all ways.

“We’re the picture of a moderate party,” he insisted. “We commit to listening to both left and right ... the complete argument.

“I’m not beholden to one side or another. I’m a moderate who likes to appeal to a broader range of Yukoners. It’s a tough thing to be a moderate, but that’s what I am.”

Silver said if he wins, he and the party are ready to pick up where they left off before the election was called.

That includes the record-breaking capital projects budget. The Liberals have largely been campaigning on its merits, and have issued only a few new promises.

Silver said last week he was prepared to re-introduce the budget and get back to work on April 13.

That’s a clear advantage he can offer over either the NDP or Yukon Party, he noted. The Liberals won’t need a transition, while the rival parties would.

Silver said when the Liberals began their term in office in 2016, it took approximately a month for the political handoff to be made. He expected it would take some time for the NDP or Yukon Party to set up shop.

He also estimated it might take as much as a year before a brand-new government would begin to feel comfortable being in power.

That’s speaking from his experience, Silver said.

He alleged the Yukon Party was reluctant to leave the government offices, and left a fiscal mess behind.

He was surprised to be told that’s a regular complaint amongst incoming administrations, and would likely happen again if the Liberals lose.

“I don’t know about other governments,” he said. “I have a very local perspective.”

Silver, who is well-known for having a bit of a political poker face, was coy on what his plans would be if the Liberals aren’t re-elected.

He’s the longest-serving current leader of the parties, and it’s quite possible, even likely, that he might face pressure to resign after a loss.

“We’re not thinking about that,” he said firmly. “We’re not thinking about losing.”

Even if that does happen, Silver said he wouldn’t disappear from the scene.

He would not say if he would fight to stay on as leader, but added, “I’m not going anywhere.”