Dan Boyd has been a Whitehorse city councillor for a long time, and he’s not ready to retire just yet.
Boyd has been on council since 2015. He confirmed with the News he is running for re-election this fall. If elected, it will be his sixth term on council. He’s been on council since 2015, as well as having done two terms on council from 1994 to 2000.
Boyd is a retiree, having worked in construction earlier in his career. He said he also worked for the Yukon government from 1988 to 2013. At one point he held the role of vice deputy minister for the Department of Community Services.
Boyd said he’d prioritize the city’s finances if re-elected — something he said he’s already been working on for the past two terms. The city operating budget has increased over the past few years, he said, and the city has some expensive infrastructure projects on the horizon.
“We've got deteriorating infrastructure. We need a new water treatment plant, and that is going to run $50 or $60 million. We've got to fix the clay cliffs along Robert Service Way," said Boyd, adding the city faces other water and sewer system problems. “The financial pressures in the city are huge, and it's going to continue to go up.”
Boyd said he also has his eye on safety in the city, calling it a “huge concern” which the city can’t address on its own.
On the issue of affordable housing, Boyd said it’s hard to tackle. Construction costs are going up, he said, and demand is greater than supply when it comes to housing.
Mayor Laura Cabott told the News Boyd will sometimes tune in to council from a construction site where he often helps out.
Cabott did not endorse Boyd, as she is not endorsing any candidate for council or mayor. However, she shared her experience of working alongside him for the past six years with the News.
“Dan is very committed in his position as a councillor, takes it very seriously, and citizens get their money's worth with Dan.”
Boyd also has a breadth of knowledge when it comes to working on council, said Cabott. His experience has given him an understanding of council’s role, she said.
When asked why he’d run for another term, Boyd said nothing is done overnight, sometimes taking 10 years to happen.
“I’m going to continue to do what I brought to council in the past term,” said Boyd. “There's plenty of turnover happening on council. This time, there will be at least four new councillors, maybe more, and there will be a new mayor, so there's some continuity, I think should happen between councils, and I would hope to be there to offer that continuity.”
Contact Talar Stockton at talar.stockton@yukon-news.com
