LETHBRIDGE- All four candidates in the running to be Lethbridge’s new mayor went head to head answering some the city’s most prominent issues in a half hour debate Monday evening.
Candidates began by sharing their platform and visions for Lethbridge if they were to be elected as the city’s new mayor.
The candidates were split on the debates’s first question regarding the removal of fluoride from the city’s tap water.
The issue was before council back in 2011 but was voted five to four to leave it in the water.
Current councillor Bridget Mearns reaffirmed her position from 2011 to find a resolution to remove fluoride from the city’s water and to give residents the choice.
Candidate Curtis Simpson agreed with Mearns to give the public the choice but says a plan needs to be in place to ensure that low income residents can still have access to fluoride.
“A comprehensive plan that will make sure these people that can’t get access to fluoride have a way to do it and we need to make sure that plan works, ” he adds.
Businessman and previous Holy Spirit School Board Trustee Chris Spearman, and current councillor Ellis Faron, both said they would trust health authorities on the matter and would support keeping fluoride in the water.
However, Faron added it is council’s responsibility to hear all sides of the issue and be open to the possibly of being swayed.
The majority of candidates seemed to share a stance when asked whether Lethbridge has the infrastructure in place to support and sustain growth and expansions on the city’s west side.
Faron, Mearns and Spearman said they were confident the infanstructure was in place not only on the west side, but other quadrants of the city for expansions such as a new elementary school and commericial development.
“We have just invested a large amount of money into a corridor in enable to allow us to to continue development on the westside. However, I do believe we need to develop our city in the north, south, and west so that we have a well rounded community where our citizens want to live, work, and play,” shares Mearns.
Meantime, Curtis Simpson was of the opinion more infanstructure, including public transit, was needed to keep up with the growing city.
Finally, the four seemed to share a stance on the priority of building both a future performing arts centre to replace the aging Yates Memorial Theatre, and new multi-use recreational facilty.
Spearman shared his plan for funding both projects including mirroring a legacy fund developed by Windspear Centre in Edmonton.
“It’s not impossible to do both at once. I think if we’re looking for matching funds for the performing arts centre it will be alot easier to get if we have funds already generated on hand. So I would suggest we build the recreational facility and charge fees for use, and also try and build up funds for the performing arts centre as well,” Spearman adds.
Faron says the reality is both centres will be built but it comes down to building when it’s responsible to do so.
“I’m not in favor on taking a great deal of tax afford debt to do so.
We should build responsibility when we can afford to do so and where is appropriate,” he says.
The Municipal Election will be held Monday, October 21, 2013.
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