Edmonton – Some of the potential successors in Edmonton’s mayoral race met Tuesday night for the first time since Mayor Stephen Mandel announced his retirement to explain their campaign platform.
Candidates Karen Leibovici, Kerry Diotte, and Don Iveson made up the forum at the Royal Glenora Club, hosted by The Urban Development Institute and the Edmonton chapter of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association.
“We’ve contributed a fair bit to the landscape of Edmonton over the years. Our membership consists of developer members as well as home builder members, with the CHBA, and we felt it was important to understand some of the platforms with the existing candidates,” says Jordan Davis, Chair of the UDI Greater Edmonton Chapter.
About 150 people attending the event, listening to the candidates answer a list of questions put together by the hosts which focused on the future of development and job security in the city as well as financing.
“A lot of what we do depends on funding from ourselves but also there’s the infrastructure funding from the province, from the municipality as well which is very important to our business,” explains Davis.
President of the Home Builders’ Association Edmonton Region, Rod Taverner calls construction the largest industry in Edmonton. He says it’s important for those who work in the sector to hear how mayoral candidates plan to develop the industry if elected.
“This particular industry, whether it be the home builders or the development community, is very interested in making sure that this current group of candidates understands the importance of the role of both. One: housing, affordability, access and jobs in the city of Edmonton.”
Taverner believes the forum didn’t change the opinions of those in attendance as far as who they’ll support during the election; rather, the event likely cemented their views.
“I guess it depends on your perspective as to how you feel. Most in this room probably solidified their view that they already knew. I think there wasn’t much change tonight. I think you sort of felt that that’s kind of what I thought.”
CHBA will be hosting a second mayoral forum on September 19th.
Kristine Acielo, Fang Hu, and Curtis Penner are also running for mayor.
Edmontonians will vote for a mayor and council on October 21.
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