‘Ten is a significant number, a nice, round number - 11 just sounds strange,” says Dave Stockdale.
Fitting words from a winning candidate who hinted his 10th term on council could be his last.
Stockdale has served the city for 26 years.
But his stint on council didn’t translate into supreme popularity.
Shortly after 10 p.m., Stockdale looked up at the large results screen in council chambers and shook his head.
“Fourth place - and Betty Irwin is still waltzing ahead of me,” he said in a somewhat despondent voice.
It didn’t begin that way.
At the start of the night, Doug Graham and Stockdale, longtime council favourites, stole the first and second spot.
But after about 15 minutes, Stockdale had slipped to fourth place, behind newcomers Ranj Pillai and Betty Irwin.
The selection of candidates running for council suggested he wasn’t necessarily guaranteed a spot on council, he said.
“It made me a little nervous, I have to admit. There were a lot of really credible candidates, some really strong people this time around.”
Before election day he received several criticisms about his suggestion to convert the old Canadian Tire building into a “one-stop” social services centre.
His idea may have been met with disapproval, but he doesn’t think it cost him votes in the end, he said.
“People with fairly significant power and influence were already thinking about these things,” he said.
He is referring to newly re-elected Mayor Bev Buckway and past mayor Ione Christensen, who also talked about giving the Canadian Tire building the same kind of makeover.
“Besides, I wanted to say something different from the other candidates at last week’s forum,” he added.
Being distinct has always been a signature trait of his, he admits. There’s no reason this election would have been any different.
Protecting Mt. McIntyre ski trails and supporting Raven Recycling’s bid for an expanded recycling depot will be some of his top priorities for his 10th term, he said.
“It’s tough for (Raven Recycling) to get money, and they’re really doing a service for the city,” he said.
And the waste the recycling plant diverts has likely doubled the life expectancy of the city landfill, he added.
If it is indeed Stockdale’s final term, then he’ll still be a year short of beating the late Erik Nielsen’s 30-year run as the Yukon’s Conservative MP.
But another win under his belt may just keep his taste for council going strong.
“This may well be my last term, but never say never,” he said.
Contact Vivian Belik at
vivianb@yukon-news.com