A veteran city councillor confirmed Wednesday afternoon he wants to become the next mayor in October.

Kirk Cameron, who was born and raised in Whitehorse, lives in downtown Whitehorse.

He remains committed to using his several decades of public and private sector experience at city hall, he said in a statement. 

He said he “is known for his collaborative approach, and will use this ability to ensure  that Whitehorse can grow in a financially sustainable way while preparing for the challenges of  tomorrow.

“As a father of three, I know how important it is for the municipal government to stay focused on the  primary services our citizens require and to do so in a way that does not burden families with high  taxes,” said Cameron.

“Our community is already facing significant challenges with respect to  infrastructure, delays in permitting, inflation, emergency preparedness, housing and unprecedented  growth. As climate change worsens and more people move to our community, these challenges will only  increase.” 

Mayor Laura Cabott said last month she will not seek a second term.

The next mayor and council, Cameron said, will be given the task to meet the current challenges head-on.

“We  can’t afford to delay action, and need to hit the ground running, and with my experience and knowledge, I  believe I can lead our team to do just that,” he said.

“Together, we must come up with realistic long-term solutions  so that people can afford to live here and call this beautiful community home.”

Cameron was first elected to city council in a 2011 byelection, and was returned to office in 2012. He resigned in 2015 in protest of the dismissals of the-then city manager and another senior manager while Dan Curtis was the mayor. Curtis never publicly specified the reasons for the decision.

Cameron was returned to council in the 2021 election.

He said he brings a significant amount of municipal experience to the table. 

“Many in our community are struggling to afford life as it is,” he said. “As we tackle the challenges of today and  tomorrow, we need to do so in a way that keeps our taxes and fees as low as possible.

“This can be done with a pragmatic and experienced voice willing to listen to and unify our community to include their thoughts and insights into how to improve services and build a stronger community.”