The candidates vying to become Saskatoon’s next mayor stood before a packed auditorium at the Broadway Theatre to express their visions for the city Tuesday.
Don Atchison, Charlie Clark, Kelley Moore and Devon Hein fielded questions from local journalists and a University of Saskatchewan political studies professor over the course of 90 minutes before a crowd of about 400 people.
FULL COVERAGE: Saskatoon civic election
The first question of the evening tasked candidates to articulate what they saw as the most important issue of the campaign.
“For me, the key issue is around out of control spending in Saskatoon,” Moore said.
“The defining issue of this campaign is change because we are in a time of change and we know we have to change,” Clark said.
“You’re going to have a choice: strong leadership and experience, or risk Saskatoon’s future to inexperience,” Atchison said.
“If you want someone that’s going to make sure that city hall doesn’t get out of control, I urge you to vote for Devon Hein,” the final candidate said.
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Candidates debated the mayor’s role and the balance between substance and ceremony. If re-elected, Atchison pledged to continue to attend 1,200 public meetings and functions annually.
“Attending 1,200 events a year? Yes you want to be a champion for the community, but that doesn’t leave time to address the challenges we’re facing,” Clark said.
When asked what services they would cut or reduce to manage property taxes, Moore reiterated a plan to “grow our city inwards and upwards,” while Clark again rejected the idea of lowering the business tax ratio. Atchison accused his opponents of planning too many committees and lacking experience.
On the topic of police carding, Moore stated she doesn’t support it.
“There should be no arbitrary police stops for information,” Clark said.
“I believe that street checks are an integral part of policing in our community,” Atchison said.
The candidates will square off again Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. at the Frances Morrison Library Theatre.
Election day is Oct. 26.
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