EDMONTON- The three front-runners in Edmonton’s mayoral race were out in full force Sunday, making their final push ahead of Election Day Monday.
“Out shaking a lot of hands, trying to get the message out and encouraging people to get out and vote,” said mayoral candidate Kerry Diotte, who was shaking hands outside Kingsway Mall Sunday afternoon.
“I personally, I’ve been criss-crossing the city. I was at Dim Sum, one of my family’s favourite Chinese restaurants, attended a couple of churches this morning,” said fellow mayoral candidate Don Iveson, as he was running from door to door in the Kilkenny neighbourhood. “Just trying to get to every person that we can to remind them to vote tomorrow.”
“We’re setting a foot in every ward in the city, which is really what our campaign has been about. It’s been getting to the grassroots, it’s been talking to Edmontonians, it’s been a very broad-based approach to campaigning that we’ve undertaken,” added Karen Leibovici, who was speaking at a church in the Hazeldean neighbourhood Sunday morning.
Since announcing their election intentions in the Spring, all three candidates have spent months presenting their campaigns to the public.
“I think it comes down to… people not being heard by City Hall by the current mayor and regime. They weren’t heard on the arena deal, they weren’t heard on the airport,” Diotte said. “And again, it’s debt, taxation and our roads.”
“I think Edmontonians, first and foremost, want to see their new council demonstrate that they take the budget seriously and that they take investing in infrastructure seriously. And if the new council has Edmonton’s confidence that we can look after the basics properly, then Edmontonians will let us continue to build the city on top of that,” Iveson explained.
“We have to ensure that we’re fiscally sustainable and again I’m considered the fiscal hawk on council so, best choice to do that. And how do we move our city forward based on projects we’ve approved as well as what the future will bring,” said Leibovici.
But have they done enough to convince the voting public they’re the right person for the job? After all, it’s Edmontonians who will make the final decision Monday, voting in the person they feel best represents them.
“Roads are also a big issue for us,” said Edge Grabador. “If we have good road conditions we won’t have as bad traffic anymore.”
“I’m not so concerned about the potholes, but I would like to see the new arena without any more arguing,” said Edmontonian Linda Binassi.
“I think a little less fighting at City Hall and a little harmony and maybe we’ll get some good ideas done,” her husband Louis added. ‘It’s really important to support City Hall, but it’s important for them to support the feelings of people as well.”
And with just hours left to prove to Edmontonians they’re the best fit for mayor, each of these three front-runners say they’ve got what it takes.
“They need a voice and as mayor I want to give them that voice and take back City Hall and represent the people,” said Diotte, who added he’s “a little bit nervous, but gung ho.”
“I’m hearing from Edmontonians that my message and the ideas I’ve been talking about in my campaign are resonating with a lot of them. So at this point we’re trying to just make sure that they actually turn out to vote,” Iveson said.
“There’s always a little bit of anxiety when you’re entering into Election Day and so it’s the same right now, you never know until those ballots are counted what the final results will be,” Leibovici said. “I’m looking forward to very positive results.”
Polls open at 9:00 a.m. Monday and close at 8:00 p.m. For a full list of polling stations, visit the City of Edmonton’s website.
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