It was billed as the Mayor’s annual state of the city address, but Yellowknife mayor Gordon Van Tighem used the occasion to announce he will not seek re-election this fall.

He made the announcement at the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

“I remember 12 years ago my wife telling me I would be silly going from a seven-day-a-week job at the bank to a nine-day-a-week job at the city. At this stage with the city being in somewhat different shape than it was and with different people involved in the process, I believe I will not be considering running,” he said.

Van Tighem spent 12 years in the job, and now he is making room for someone new to take the lead.

He suggested deputy mayor Mark Heyck would be a good fit. Van Tighem said Heyck, who has been on city council for six years, has essentially been in training for the job.

“While serving in that role, he has been on the green municipal board and has been a keynote speaker at a number of events across the country and has been showing an interest and enthusiasm for the job and the community. And I'm pretty sure he has his wife's permission. But there may be other members on council who may be considering it,” he said.

Yellowknife mayor Gordon Van Tighem announced Tuesday he will not seek re-election this fall. (CBC)

Heyck said he isn’t ready to announce whether he will run for mayor.

So far, no councillors have announced their intentions to run for the top city job. But councillors Amanda Mallon and Cory Vanthyne both said they will seek re-election.

Coun. David Wind said he is still considering whether he will run again.