Mayoral hopefuls stress experience, need for new leader
Phil Tank, Saskatoon StarPhoenix
Despite a format that allowed no room for direct debate, the three main challengers to become Saskatoon's next mayor continued to take shots at each other at a forum Wednesday.
Incumbent Don Atchison stressed his experience and accomplishments, while veteran councillor Charlie Clark said it's time for new leadership and newcomer Kelley Moore touted her fresh perspective.
The mayoral candidates responded to prepared questions in front of about 200 people at Prairieland Park in an event sponsored by the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce.
Clark continued to question Atchison's leadership and accountability, while Atchison deflected Moore's concerns about rising debt levels by pointing to the city's AAA credit rating.
"My goodness, I didn't know we had someone up here who was an expert at bond rating," Atchison said in response to Moore raising concerns about rising City of Saskatoon debt.
Atchison also blasted Moore's claim that he promised a zero per cent property tax increase when first elected in 2003, stating it was a goal, not a promise.
"Then again, you'd expect nothing less of inexperience," Atchison said.
Clark repeated his assertion Saskatoon needs to focus more on balanced growth, but needs a new mayor to accomplish that.
"We need to grow, but how we grow is important," Clark said. "To grow the economy, we need an engaged mayor."
Clark called Saskatoon "the engine of the provincial economy" and said the mayor needs to do more to attract business than attending 1,200 events a year — the number routinely cited by Atchison.
Moore repeated her assertions the city's finances are shaky and suffer from a lack transparency. She laid the blame at Atchison's feet and again criticized city council for voting to postpone the release of the preliminary budget until after the Oct. 26 election.
"What chairman of a billion-dollar corporation does not know where the finances reside?" Moore asked.
She also joined Clark in questioning Atchison's leadership and how he responds to challenges.
"This is not visionary," she said. "This is reactionary."
Atchison countered with his vision, which includes trying to get the rail lines moved out of city limits and opposition to a protected bike lane demonstration project on Fourth Avenue.
He asked people to imagine travelling across Saskatoon without having to contend with delays from trains.
Atchison also suggested in front of the pro-business audience he is receptive to lowering the property taxes on businesses, provided the timing is right.
"You need to have a plan for the future," Atchison said, suggesting his opponents' plans were "theoretical."
Among his accomplishments, Atchison said a $9-million donation to refurbish attractions at Kinsmen Park stemmed from a conversation he had with the former CEO of PotashCorp.
Clark said he would convene a Saskatoon economic forum to help guide the city through a more volatile economic time.
He repeated the potential for Saskatoon could avoid some of the mistakes other cities like Edmonton and Calgary have made as they grew from mid-sized to large centres.
"We have a chance to get that right," he said. "That's not going to happen without a change in leadership."
Moore focused on her experience helping to run a small consulting business and said she wanted to limit red tape at city hall.
"I know what it's like to make tough decisions," Moore said.
She said record debt, high taxes and aging infrastructure need a "new perspective" to be addressed more effectively.
The fourth challenger, Devon Hein, gave several answers that were only a sentence or two long, but pushed his idea of zero per cent property tax increases.
He suggested his opponents were hiding their true plans for big projects and would "build a bid dome of debt over the city."
ptank@postmedia.com
twitter.com/thinktankSK
Saskatoon Election 2016
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