Diane Strand elected mayor of Haines Junction, Yukon

Diane Strand is the new mayor of Haines Junction, Yukon, according to unofficial results from Thursday's byelection.

Strand won 137 votes, while the other candidate, Brian Melanson, won 110 votes.

Ninety-nine ballots were deemed "unused or spoiled." The town's chief administrative officer says those were extra ballots that were unused.

The byelection came just a few months after the last municipal election in Haines Junction. In October, Michael Riseborough was elected mayor, defeating two other candidates, including Melanson, in that vote.

However, Riseborough resigned a few weeks later citing his health as the reason, brought on by workplace stress.

Strand has already served one term as a councillor in Haines Junction and was reelected to council in October. She is also the former chief of Champagne and Aishihik First Nations. 

During her mayoral campaign this month, Strand said she had been asked several times in the past to run for mayor and decided this was the time.

She said that besides her leadership experience, she felt that having a member of Champagne and Aishihik First Nations in office would be important for the community. 

"We've been missing that Indigenous voice within municipal governments," she said. "I think being that voice could help bridge misunderstandings and be beneficial to Haines Junction."