A councillor's work is never done....

Even after nine terms.

Veteran city councillor Dave Stockdale confirmed this week he will seek a 10th term of office in the Oct. 15 civic election.

Also hoping to keep their seats at the council table are Councillors Doug Graham and Florence Roberts.

In separate interviews this week, all three councillors said that though they have no plans to run for mayor, a seat first-term

Mayor Bev Buckway is hoping to retain, there is still work they want to continue performing at the civic level.

Stockdale was first elected in 1983, at the end of Flo Whyard's single-term mayoralty. He has served under mayors Don Branigan, Bill Weigand, Kathy Watson, Ernie Bourassa and the incumbent.

"I just have a really good feeling about the town," commented Stockdale, a retired teacher.

He said he likes the way the community is developing and wants to continue work on residential developments like Ingram and Takhini North, as well as the new Public Safety Building being constructed at the top of Two Mile Hill and waterfront development.

While Stockdale had indicated during the 2006 election that may have been his last candidacy, he said Wednesday he still enjoys being involved in local affairs and the direction the city is taking.

"We're in a really good position," he said.

Over the past term, he suggested, there's been good planning work done, and while there have been tax increases, they have been kept under control.

The city is also at a point where he believes it can satisfy developers who want to locate downtown, given the number of lots available.

While he enjoys being on council, the long-term member doesn't want to sit as a mayor, as it wouldn't fit his lifestyle, he said, noting a mayor's role requires him or her to be on-call 24/7.

Graham said he thought about the role of mayor for "about 30 seconds" before deciding he'd rather keep his seat on council for another term.

"There's still a lot of things I want to do," Graham said, noting his worry as well that taxes could soon "get out of control" if someone doesn't "draw a line."

The city needs to decide what's important, and let go of some of the things that aren't, said the councillor, who is seeking a fourth term.

"I know there's a way," he argued.

The way land is developed in the city is also a concern for the councillor, who questions the focus on developing to a higher density with condos and row housing.

Some residents want room to park a boat and have a yard, he said, suggesting the city could have trouble selling the lots it's developing.

"We're not social engineers," he said, adding council is there to represent the people rather than telling people what they want.

Despite his concerns about city taxes, Graham commented that the current term has been a good one.

Positive steps have been taken in solid waste and composting, along with the ongoing work for the new Public Safety Building, he said.

Graham noted the cost of the $9.8-million structure is now at a "manageable" level the city can afford thanks to the federal gas tax dollars that have come into the community. As well, the contractors' bids were lower than expected.

Like Stockdale and Graham, Roberts also cited the new Public Safety Building as an accomplishment of this council, along with moving forward on having the city move to ground water for its main supply instead of Schwatka Lake.

Waterfront development and moving forward on the revamped transit schedule are also works-in-progress that Roberts wants to continue to be part of.

She'd also like to see more of a focus on surfacing roads in the more rural parts of town, have more resources go to the city's public works department and look at expanding the city's apprenticeship program.

The city needs to look at the costs of operating the Canada Games Centre, as well.

Also enjoying her time as a councillor, Roberts decided not to seek the mayor's chair, noting she's not much of a public speaker and she doesn't think she'd be able to "keep pace" with the role.

She praised Buckway's work in the role, noting the current mayor is a good mediator who keeps both council and staff "in line" during discussions.

"She has the city at heart," Roberts said.

Meanwhile, at least one city councillor is still deciding whether she will run again in October.

"I haven't decided," Coun. Jeanine Myhre said Wednesday. "I still have another month."

Busy with work, Myhre said she is debating whether she has the required time to devote to the position for another three years.

She is in her first term.

Councillors Dave Austin and Jan Stick are both out of town and couldn't be reached for comment this week.

Stick has had to spend a prolonged period out of town because of a serious illness in her family.