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Two-term councillor Adrian Bell announces mayoral run

Coun. Adrian Bell has announced that he will join Coun. Rebecca Alty in a bid to become Yellowknife's next mayor this fall.

Bell's key mandates include “establishing a culture of accountability and transparency at city hall, strengthening and diversifying our economy, reducing the cost of living and of doing business in Yellowknife.”

“I'm very passionate about municipal issues. I have been for a very long time and it has been very fulfilling working as city councillor since 2012 and deputy mayor since 2016,” he told Yellowknifer in an interview today.

In the face of economic uncertainty in the NWT and Yellowknife, Bell said he is “increasingly concerned about challenges looming on the horizon.”

With the impending closure of diamond mines and recent announcements that territorial and federal funding for an all-season road to the diamond mines fell flat, the city has potential the be a hub for resilience, said Bell.

“Those type of indications keep me up at night with concern about the economy,” said Bell. “It becomes increasingly important for us to have leaders and a mayor with a strong determination to achieve a better brighter future for residents.”

Conscious of “voter burnout,” Bell said he won't reveal all the details of his platform just yet.

“This is a very early stage to be announcing candidacy,” he said. “I've got a very good sense, having worked as a councillor for five and a half years of ... strategy and direction for a platform. I will be bringing that to residents and adjusting it accordingly.”

“I am very proud of the things we've accomplished, but I'm aware there is much room for improvement and residents made that clear to me,” said Bell, reflecting on his past two terms on council.

Though the territory's economic outlook is grim, that transitional time is “as much a challenge as it is a great opportunity,” he said.

“Having been a small business owner and something of a serial entrepreneur for over 20 years, it's with that entrepreneurial lens that I see the opportunities and feel drawn to pursue them on behalf of the city,” he said.

There are opportunities to grow Yellowknife's tourism industry and post-secondary education sector, and to establish small businesses as the foundation of the city's economy. Support for the arts and culture sector and local festivals is also key to Bell's vision, he said.

The city must also do everything it can to support mining as a cornerstone of the Northern economy, said Bell.

“If we can do a good job of those things we can position ourselves to weather the coming transition and thrive for years to come,” he said.