City councillor Kirk Cameron has praised co-councillor Mellisa Murray for creating a two-way race for the mayoralty this week.

Murray announced Monday evening she is running for mayor in October’s election, as is Cameron.

“Anyone who puts their name forward for that kind of job is a serious candidate,” Cameron told The Yukon Star this morning.

“From my personal experience, though I can’t speak for Mellisa on this one, it took me a lot of effort after I heard Laura was stepping aside,” said Cameron, referring to Mayor Laura Cabott, who is not seeking a second term.

“I worked with a very small team of family and friends to decide, and it took a lot of effort to clear my mind on ‘did I want to put my name forward?’ so I can only imagine Mellissa has gone through the same thing, and I commend her for putting her name forward,” Cameron said.

Both candidates are pursuing the mayoralty for the first time. Murray is a first-term councillor.

“I served as a city councillor in a byelection in 2011, was re-elected in 2012 to 2015, took some time away to do business, and ran again in 2021. I’m back on the council for this three-year term,” Cameron noted.

In his view, the city needs a leader with strong experience, as he believes this is a complex business, since the City of Whitehorse is a $150-million-year corporation, he said, referring to its operating costs.

He noted he brings 20 years of public service, including roles as a deputy minister in the Executive Council Office of the Yukon government and deputy minister of environment.