Six of the seven people running to be Chatham-Kent's (CK) next mayor met to discuss the biggest issues plaguing the area.
A debate was put on by YourTV Chatham-Kent on Wednesday in the council chambers, with Lauren Anderson, Michael Bondy, Darrin Canniff, April Colby, Ryan Gow, and Randy Hope taking part. Nelson Burm was the only candidate who didn't participate.
Each was given a chance to share their thoughts on taxes, municipal spending, infrastructure, economic development, housing, homelessness, healthcare, and the urban and rural divide.
Responses were limited, as the candidates were only given a minute to answer most questions.
Here is how each of the six candidates answered questions on the biggest issues.
Lauren Anderson
Taxes/Municipal Spending: Doesn't believe the mayor alone should decide what services need to be cut to lower taxes and wants more public consultation.
Infrastructure: Explained that she's the only candidate with political experience who has to deal with rural infrastructure daily, giving her an understanding of what's needed.
Economic Development: Wants to sit down with local businesses to see how the municipality is helping them and where it can improve, while also finding ways to encourage more people and businesses to move to the area.
Housing/Homelessness/Healthcare: Doesn't believe the three issues should be lumped together, and when it comes to the homeless crisis, believes the municipality needs to support everyone on an individual level.
Urban, Rural Divide: Argues that the next council needs to be CK-focused and not Ward/ community-focused.
Michael Bondy
Taxes/Municipal Spending: Wants to do a deep dive into each department within the municipality's administration to find out what's needed and what can be cut.
Infrastructure: Would like to create community groups in each Ward, allowing the public to highlight what roads, bridges, and culverts need to be worked on.
Economic Development: Believes the municipality should make it more convenient and logical for businesses to move here by cutting red tape and improving business taxes.
Housing/Homelessness/Healthcare: Argues the municipality needs a drug-and-substance-free shelter, should get rid of encampments, and reduce development charges for new housing.
Urban, Rural Divide: Discussed his community group idea again, allowing the public to share their biggest grievances and how the municipality can improve.
Darrin Canniff
Taxes/Municipal Spending: Argues infrastructure is the biggest reason for rising costs and wants the province to take back infrastructure responsibilities or provide more financial relief.
Infrastructure: Thinks the focus needs to be on the infrastructure in the worst shape, wherever it may be in the municipality.
Economic Development: Believes the municipality needs to make it easier for people and groups to do business here.
Housing/Homelessness/Healthcare: Wants to continue focusing on affordable housing, adding a shelter, and getting support from higher levels of government.
Urban, Rural Divide: Explained that the next council needs to work on improving the entire municipality and not specific areas, while also encouraging councillors to continue bringing local issues to council so proper discussions on solutions can happen.
April Colby
Taxes/Municipal Spending: Believes the municipality is paying too much for administration while not using it properly and wants to tackle redundancies.
Infrastructure: Wants the municipality to have a more timely response to local infrastructure needs and focus on limiting the number of times repairs will be needed in the future.
Economic Development: Would like to help local businesses expand, while also having a better focus on hiring local across the municipality.
Housing/Homelessness/Healthcare: Believes more housing will help deal with each issue, arguing the municipality needs to move away from projects like the tiny cabins.
Urban, Rural Divide: Argues funding should be given on a needs basis and not based on which community is bigger.
Ryan Gow
Taxes/Municipal Spending: Wants a top-to-bottom look at the municipal budget and for the next council to focus on bringing in more revenue for the municipality.
Infrastructure: Believes more public consultation is needed, and would like to release a full infrastructure report within his first days in office.
Economic Development: Argues the municipality needs to be ready for businesses to move right away and should help local businesses expand.
Housing/Homelessness/Healthcare: Would like to use surplus municipal land for pre-designed homes, and help people on drugs make a plan for life after battling their addiction.
Urban, Rural Divide: Has a plan to create Ward offices where councillors can work out of and the public can share their thoughts directly with their representative, who'll then relay messages to the rest of council.
Randy Hope
Taxes/Municipal Spending: Would like to see a comprehensive review of the municipal budget to determine what's needed and what's not.
Infrastructure: Wants the municipality to look into more cost-efficient ways to deal with roads.
Economic Development: Argues the municipality needs to be shovel-ready for projects and to have a business force that's adaptable.
Housing/Homelessness/Healthcare: Believes we need more support from the province, be more proactive to help people needing housing, and ensure that seniors aren't left behind in conversations.
Urban, Rural Divide: Explained that the municipality needs strategies that focus on the entire area and should recognize the importance and need of each community.
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The candidates were also asked to prepare a question for the debate. These focused on project statuses being public knowledge, accountability and transparency, proudest accomplishment, plans for the first 90 days in office, what's holding CK back from reaching its potential, and how they relate to people dealing with the biggest issues head-on.
Only one question from the public was asked due to time constraints. It focused on how each would use strong mayor powers. The six were given the rest of the public's questions and encouraged to answer them on their own platforms.
People can watch the debate on YourTV Chatham-Kent's YouTube page.
