Iqaluit mayoral candidate Wilman says she’s ready for the next step

Iqaluit’s incumbent mayor, Mary Wilman, says she inherited the city’s deficit when she was appointed mayor in November 2014. Tackling that deficit will be her first priority if elected Oct. 19. (FILE PHOTO)

Incumbent mayor Mary Wilman say she’s ready for the next step in her political career — running for the office she currently holds in a public election.

“This is my first time running for mayor,” Wilman said.

“I feel I’ve proven myself because I’ve been able to carry on for a year and a half under some very challenging circumstances.”

Wilman, already a veteran Iqaluit city councilor and deputy mayor, was challenged early and often after filling in for absentee mayor John Graham in early 2014, prior to her appointment to the job on a permanent basis

Most notably was the four-storey dump fire, dubbed “dumpcano,” which raged through the summer of 2014 and cost taxpayers approximately $4 million to extinguish.

Since the 2012 municipal election, city council has struggled at times to maintain its eight-person roster — first with the replacement of the late Jimmy Kilabuk on council with Noah Papatsie in a 2013 by-election, and then the resignation of councilor Mark Morrissey in 2014, whose seat was later filled by Stephen Mansell.

And of course there was the official resignation of Graham and the appointment of Wilman as interim mayor, six months after she assumed the responsibilities of Graham in all but name.

Tensions among council members erupted during Wilman’s watch, such as a shouting match that broke out during the passage of a new code of conduct.

Under those circumstances however, Wilman stands behind the work she’s accomplished.

“I’m the first mayor — and I’m not even elected by the public, I fully realize that — but in less than two years I’m the only one that’s had major decisions like inheriting a deficit. I’ve inherited problems in lack of administration, which directly related to the poor management of finances and the fire,” said Wilman.

“I stand by my track record.”

If elected mayor, Wilman believes the first step for the next council will be to control the city’s deficit — which could reach about $10 million by the end of the year.

“First and foremost, we need to develop a deficit plan. We have already put together a policy that states the city will always have a balanced budget, we’ve never had a policy towards that, so that’s number one.”

After that, said Wilman, the city can focus on much-needed improvements in its infrastructure.

In response to allegations of lack of transparency by this city council, most notably by fellow councilor Kenny Bell, Wilman believes she has done a good job —but there is always room for improvement.

“This current council has been very big on transparency and I think you will always get that regardless of when, because people always want transparency,” she said.

“Yes, I agree it is something that always requires improvement, its one of those evolving situations where we should always strive for transparency.”

Stability is what’s been lacking for the last several years, and the last five years of municipal politics may prove to be her best route to re-election, she said.

“Since 2009, we haven’t had a mayor that has finished a three-year term. This is a three-year term position,” said Wilman.

“Madeleine [Redfern] was elected in 2010 until 2012, she served two years, then John [Graham] was elected in 2012, and he served a year and a half. That’s when I took over.”

Wilman, will be challenged in the Oct. 19 municipal election by former mayor Madeleine Redfern and Coun. Noah Papatsie. You can read our profiles of Papatsie here and Redfern here.