Yellowknife (Sep 17/03) - Mayor Gord Van Tighem had his dancing shoes on but no one showed up to dance.

And unless anyone comes out of the woodwork by tomorrow afternoon to challenge his nomination papers, his path to a second term in the mayor's office will go unhindered.

A happy Mayor Gord Van Tighem will face no challengers in this year's municipal election. It's not absolutely certain but he may be Yellowknife's first mayor to ever be elected by acclamation. - Mike W. Bryant/NNSL photo

By Monday's nomination deadline Van Tighem was the only name entered for this year's mayoral race.

He joked that running unopposed was part of his election strategy all along.

"I was hoping for it," laughed Van Tighem, "because it's an awful lot of work to go through an election. Before, I called it a 'five-week job interview.'"

The 12-year resident and former Royal Bank manager said he had his re-election team, campaign funding and piles of election signs all lined up and ready to go, but is now just content to go on with regular city business while the remaining fight for city council seats -- with 17 candidates -- continues.

"I really like this place and these people," said Van Tighem. "I've been working very diligently to keep it what it is and make it what it will be.

"It hasn't been all things to all people. I've had a few debates but hopefully (my acclamation) is reflective of hard work in the right direction. A person can go the wrong direction with a lot of hard work, just look back (on past mayors)."

Even though his election campaign has been put to bed, Van Tighem said he still plans to follow the upcoming election for the school board and city council with interest. He predicts city planning and property taxes will be the issues foremost on voters' minds.

"When we were doing last year's budget, I said since 1991 we hadn't had a significant tax increase," said Van Tighem, adding that next year's budget -- as of yet incomplete -- shows a property tax increase of less than 5 per cent for 2005.

"In that same time Edmonton has passed us, Calgary has passed us, many places have passed us. We've been fairly sheltered because we've had no growth for a period of time and then exponential growth.

"With the budget being put together now, what needs to be determined is if the increase of revenue has kept pace with the increase in maintenance expense."

Van Tighem credits his ability to successfully mediate between various parties and interest groups for his continued popularity. He said because so few of the city's goals over the last term have been derailed is another.

"One of things I said in the last election was that I'd be non-confrontational, co-operative, I think that's happened," said Van Tighem.

"There's been significant improvement at city hall for financial planning and control, better relationships with the feds, GNWT and aboriginal groups. Major initiatives like the Waterfront plan, they have action plans, whereas before they kind of just sat on the shelf."

Returning officer Debbie Euchner said without digging through boxes of old agenda items the city has accumulated over the last 50 years, it appears Van Tighem could be the first mayoral candidate in Yellowknife's history to win by acclamation.

With 1,555 ballots in his favour, Van Tighem beat his closest challenger, Bob Brooks, by 200 votes in October 2000.