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Some familiar faces won鈥檛 be returning as mayor when municipal elections are held on Oct. 28.

Joanni Sallerina in Gjoa Haven, Ryan Nivingalok in Kugluktuk and Celestino Uyarak in Iglulik are among the incumbents who are not seeking a return to the top municipal office.

Sallerina, a school teacher who served seven years as community leader over two terms, said he simply doesn鈥檛 have enough time to devote to the position anymore.

There are too many extracurricular activities that he has to tend to after school to allow him to maintain the part-time mayor鈥檚 role, he said.

鈥淭he community needs to be represented well,鈥� said Sallerina. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 feel comfortable in sending somebody else to do my job so I decided not to rerun.

鈥淩ight now I鈥檓 going to be focusing on the students, our future leaders.鈥�

As he reflects on his tenure, he said he鈥檚 most proud of having achieved more housing, the community is overcoming its financial deficit and there are better mental health supports, although that still remains one of the biggest issues in Gjoa Haven, he said.

鈥淲e have a lot of people who need (mental health counselling) and we don鈥檛 have the services in the community.鈥�

As a piece of general advice, he said it鈥檚 crucial for the next mayor to develop a strong understanding of municipal and territorial governance and to maintain strong communication with the chief administrative officer.

He also shared part of his philosophy on how he struck a balance over the past several years.

鈥淚 always say to myself, I can鈥檛 make the whole community happy but if I make one person happy a day then I鈥檝e done my duty,鈥� he said.

Focus on family and health

In Kugluktuk, Nivingalok said he鈥檚 opted not to pursue a third term in office for personal reasons.

鈥淚鈥檝e got to take care of my health鈥� I鈥檓 ready to focus on my family and my health,鈥� he said, adding that he has five children at home.

Nivingalok held down the mayor鈥檚 responsibilities while working for the Kugluktuk Housing Association.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been tough, a struggle. Some days are long, yes,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t has its ups and downs. It has its rewards and challenges.鈥�

Among the rewards have been replacing the hamlet鈥檚 mobile equipment, getting a quarry running, acquiring new housing and the numerous benefits from the now concluded Moving Forward Together program, he said. The community also has a new diesel power plant with solar power capacity.

However, there has been considerable turmoil over the past several months since Kugluktuk residents voted to remove alcohol restrictions. The crime rate has risen, the police have been accused of not being responsive and there have been at least three recent alcohol-related deaths.

鈥淚t鈥檚 stressful. I don鈥檛 want to comment on that. It鈥檚 a difficult one,鈥� said Nivingalok.

One of the projects that Nivingalok and his council have been doggedly pursuing for years is the establishment of a long-term care centre. Although there was nothing announced officially, he hinted that some news may be coming soon.

鈥楾he job is never finished鈥�

In Iglulik, Uyarak will not appear on the ballot for mayor, but he is seeking a council seat.

He said he and his staff set out to improve the hamlet鈥檚 finances while also improving pay and benefits for municipal employees and he feels that鈥檚 been accomplished.

鈥淲e did that,鈥� he said, adding that the water reservoir and sewage lagoon have been overhauled, corresponding training has been provided, the financial department is also upgrading and an ambulance has been brought into Iglulik for the first time.

Without being prompted, the mayor disclosed what he considers to be his failures: he was unable to revive the Rockin鈥� Walrus Festival, he couldn鈥檛 get the public radio station fully functioning and his hopes for improvements to search and rescue weren鈥檛 realized.

鈥淏ut the job is never finished,鈥� he said. 鈥淜eep in mind that no matter what you try to do best you don鈥檛 satisfy everyone. That鈥檚 part of being in politics.鈥�

As mayor, Uyarak travels to represent the community and said he meets daily with the senior administrative officer (SAO), including weekends, to strategize. A former SAO, assistant, SAO and recreation staff member, he, like most mayors, frequently gets stopped in the streets and takes phone calls at home at all hours from people with urgent concerns.

鈥淵ou have to be open to everyone. If you cannot answer right away, you (look) into it and get back to the individual if you can,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 get too excited. You don鈥檛 get too low. You try not to show it.鈥�