City councillors Garett Cochrane and Stacie Arden Smith say they will put their names forward to replace Rebecca Alty as Yellowknife’s mayor.
Alty is leaving the role after nearly seven years to become the NWT’s Liberal MP after winning the riding in the April 28 federal election.
Council can choose to hold a by-election, leave the mayor’s position vacant until the next scheduled municipal election in October 2026, or appoint a sitting councillor to the role.
That decision hasn’t been made yet but the indications are that council will appoint from within.
On Saturday, Arden Smith stated: “As a long time City Councillor, born and raised Yellowknifer and proud Indigenous woman, I will be putting my name forward for the position.”
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On Sunday, Cochrane – who was a member of the Liberal team supporting Alty’s federal election run – issued a statement announcing his intention to put his name forward. He said he would run for the mayor’s position even if council decided to hold a by-election rather than appoint a councillor.
“As a born and raised 2SLGBTQ Metis Yellowknifer, my longtime commitment to community service and my experience while serving on this Council as both a member and Deputy Mayor – I believe I can provide the strategic foresight, formidable skillset, abilities in advocacy, temperament, diplomatic approach and proven track record in leadership it will take to serve as Mayor for 2025 – 2026,” he wrote.
Deputy mayor Ben Hendriksen has said he is considering whether to seek the role. So far, no other councillors have definitively stated they want the job.
Whoever becomes the next mayor would only hold the role until the fall 2026 election, at which point Yellowknifers would go to the polls to select a mayor (and council) for a full four-year term.
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2022 election interviews: Garett Cochrane · Stacie Arden Smith
A special council meeting on Monday will see councillors examine which path to take.
If a sitting councillor takes Alty’s job, a vacancy would still exist on council as a result. In those circumstances, council would have to decide whether to leave that council spot vacant, appoint a willing member of the public to fill it, or hold a by-election for it.
The briefing note for Monday’s meeting supplies guidance from city staff about how to handle the issue of the council vacancy.
“In determining whether to appoint a member of the public to the office of Councillor, consideration should be given to: public sentiment given that 30 months has passed since the election; the person’s ability to serve on Council and Committees of Council; and whether it is in the best interests of the City to fill the vacancy,” the briefing note states.
“The current Council has experienced a number of disruptions during their term of office, including the Wildfire Evacuation and labour disruption at the City of Yellowknife. The addition of a new member of Council more than half way through this Council’s mandate would require time for that new member to come up to speed with Council’s Strategic Priorities and current issues.”
A by-election is estimated by city staff to cost between $100,000 and $150,000 to hold.
“In the event that Council appoints an existing member to the role of Mayor and a vacancy for Councillor is created, the public sentiment of appointing an eligible person is unknown as the overall political environment in Canada has become polarized and divided in recent months,” the briefing note adds.
“Given that a quorum of Council is the majority of Council Members then holding office, the number of Council Members would have to diminish to five (5) before a loss of quorum would become a concern. Council must therefore determine whether the appointment of a member of the public to City Council, or a by‐election, is in the best interest of the community, given public sentiment and the potential disruption that will occur, or whether to leave the position of either the mayor or councillor vacant.”
