INUVIK - Two mayoral candidates are campaigning for the top job in Inuvik next month.

Derek Lindsay says he'll continue to improve town maintenance if re-elected, and Denny Rodgers says he'll bring the community together through better communication.

"We can't just sit here and wait for a pipeline to happen," said Denny Rodgers. "It seems that's all we've done for the past three years. There's little communication coming from council. Do we really know what's going on?"

Rodgers has previously served four terms on council. He's the former finance officer for the Town of Inuvik and is currently the finance manager for the Inuvik Housing Authority.

A man of details, he wonders why council newsletters aren't being distributed to the public anymore and why the mayor doesn't present a written performance report to members of council at regular meetings.

Lindsay said the newsletters stopped being sent out because of staff turnover, but added the service will start again shortly. He added he has always maintained an open-door policy.

"We have open council meetings and we'd love to see residents show up," he said. "Communication goes both ways."

Lindsay said he's proud of his track record over his last three years as town mayor and has "some unfinished business" to complete.

"As far as snow clearing and that sort of thing goes, you get better service here than anywhere else in the NWT."

Some of the projects he'd like to see through include completing the construction of the water treatment plant, for which the town has secured funding. He said he also wants to develop a riverfront park near the airport strip.

Both Rodgers and Lindsay are optimistic that the Mackenzie Gas Project will become a reality, but understand the survival of the local economy hinges on more than that.

Lindsay said he'd like to promote tourism "in a big way" and he's relying on the proposed all-weather road to Tuktoyaktuk to maximize the industry's potential in the region.

The town allotted $700,000 for paving this year but was unable to go through with the plan because the tenders came back too high. Lindsay said that money has been put towards next year's paving program, which is budgeted at about $1.5 million.

Rodgers said he would like to look into building a pavement plant in town, which he added could make sense, given the fact that there are three road construction contractors in town and an airport runway expansion plan is on the horizon.

He added that businesses and homeowners would probably take advantage of more affordable pavement.

One of the first things Rodgers said he would do as mayor is invite select business owners to the community to find out ways to stimulate the economy. He said he would also invite the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and Gwich'in Tribal Council.

"We have to be out there promoting ourselves," he said.

"We need to host these strategic workshops. What's lacking is that people are not working together."

On the question of whether the mayor's position should be full or part time, Rodgers said he would leave that up to council to decide.

Lindsay also said he would follow council's decision on the matter, but he added for him the matter was resolved when the town voted in August to make it a full-time position for the next three years.

While Lindsay said he looks forward to continuing on in his position, Rodgers is eyeing the mayor's seat with confidence.

"I think I have it in me to be one of the best mayors Inuvik has ever had," he said.

Town council candidates in Inuvik are Vince Brown, Ethel-Jean Gruben, Terry Halifax, Jesse Harder, Lionel Harder, Chris Larocque, Grace Loreen, James McDonald, Alana Mero, Nick Saturnino, Vince Sharpe, Amier Suliman, Kurt Wainman, Clarence Wood.