Okay, so there really isn’t much of a battle. North Vancouver District Mayor Richard Walton has apparently scared off the competition this time around and it appears he will easily walk back into the mayor’s office unopposed.

Coun. Doug Mackay-Dunn, former mayoral candidate Jim Cuthbert, and outgoing DNV Coun. Janice Harris (who beat MacKay-Dunn for a brief one-year stint as mayor) appear resigned to life outside the mayor’s chambers.

However, what does seem to be happening is that others coveting the mayor’s gavel in the district are setting their sights on the 2011 election.

There could be some real change on council this year, if – and this is a strong if – someone fights their way into the top six and provides some a new perspective and vision from the councillor ranks. This is a rare opportunity for a newcomer to get on council and position themselves for political growth down the road. Someone who might have their eye on becoming mayor in the district would likely use this sliver of opportunity with the one outright vacancy on council to vault into the public eye and carve out a path the mayor’s chair.

Perennial top vote-getter Janice Harris has called it quits, leaving a huge hole on council, particularly if gender balance is to be, in any way, taken into consideration. With no serious female candidates as of yet stepping up to the plate it appears that Coun. Lisa Muri could find herself in a one versus six scenario.

So where does this leave Coun.or Muri, who will probably cringe at any suggestion that an individual’s gender makes any difference on council. But like it or not, without another female in council chambers the attention and focus would be on Muri. Or should I say the limelight – which in politics is a good thing.

For Muri, who I’m told is starting to look down the political road and is interested in running for mayor in 2011, being the lone female on council will only set her up nicely to arm wrestle Richard Walton for the job. Over the next three years she can start building her support, raise the funds necessary for a serious challenge, and hone her vision for the community. Muri is probably spending the next 24 hours asking herself one question – she knows she’s going to be re-elected to council but will school trustee Jane Thornthwaite take the political plunge and also seek a seat as a councillor.

Yes, there is a risk for Thornthwaite, but should she win she would bring her independent style to council and be an ever looming threat to any future mayor wannabes.

Who will turn out to be North Vancouver’s version of Dianne Watts?