TULITA/FORT NORMAN - Tulita residents will have two contenders to choose from when they elect a new mayor Dec. 14.

Wilfred Lennie Sr. and Danny Yakeleya are running for the position, currently held by acting mayor Jody Snortland. Voters will also choose eight councillors from nine candidates: Walter Andrew, Janet Bayha, Brian Borowitz, Lorraine Doctor, Lori Ann Lennie, Danny Lennie, Wilfred Lennie Sr., Gary Yakeleya and Dougie Yallee.

Wilfred Lennie, who recently served a two-year term on council, said he's ready for a bigger challenge.

"I've been watching the hamlet for the last few years. It's like it fell apart and it's getting back up to where it should be," he said. "The hamlet was run poorly and nobody really cared what was happening in their community. I saw that and that's why I decided well maybe I should run for mayor and maybe I could do something for my community."

Lennie, a retired Public Works employee and former president of the Tulita Renewable Resource Council, said he would like to see the community's new baseball field and swimming pool to completion, as well as set up a shooting range for Canadian Rangers practise, organize youth programs and designate space for a picnic area.

"It's a challenge for me and I want to see if I can do a better job or not," Lennie said.

His sole opponent, Danny Yakeleya, served multiple terms as Tulita's mayor about eight years ago. He now has a full-time job with his family business, Red Dog Mountain Contracting Limited, and a part-time job as chief negotiator for the Tulita Yamoria Community Secretariat.

"They've got several projects on the go, the ball field, the swimming pool, and I just want to make sure we have the money available to a) finish these projects and b) maintain and operate them on an ongoing basis," Yakeleya said.

Yakeleya said he wanted to get back into local politics so he could help the community with ongoing issues such as stray dogs, dusty roads and a lack of available funding.

"I think those are going to be real, continuing pressures on the council and I just want to jump back in and see where they were and how I can help," he said.

"I don't know how I would do it. I've been out of it for such a long time, we'd have to get back in and see where the council's at."

Voting will take place Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the R.D. Clement Building.