We received word from the people at A Better Grimsby that the Ward Alderman debates for Wards 2, 3 and 4 have now been posted online on YouTube. They can be accessed at the following links:
Ward 2 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf8msqpyFoM
Ward 3 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw5rxLItcwI
Ward 4 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evEcXwEbGGE
We will keep you updated once we have information as to the online availability of the Mayor/Regional Councillor and Ward 1 debates.
On the topic of debates, it is worth dedicating some electrons to the Mayoral Debate and All-Candidates night held by the Grimsby Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday night. The standing-room only event was well run and the questions posed to candidates at the debate were interesting and fair.
Looking at all the campaigns, credit has to be given to most of the new Aldermen candidates, Jeff Jordan and both Regional Councillor candidate Wayne Fertich and the incumbent Tony Quirk. All of them are firing on all cylinders, getting their platform and messages out on multiple levels. We may not always agree with what they say, but most of the Town Council incumbents could take a cue from them on how to get a message out rather than camping out and advancing wild theories.
Now turning back to Tuesday’s debate event, it has to be mentioned there was one low point at the end of the evening with a comment from a few members in the audience that was uncalled for. While some incumbents are attempting to have a field day with it, if they want people to believe in their conspiracy theories then they must entertain the possibility that these individuals may have also been from their own camp as agent provocateurs intended to paint any kind of opposition as bad.
It sounds crazy, right? We don’t believe that to be the case, but we used it illustrate how ridiculous their claims have become. In all reasonableness, it was likely a few people who are passionate but exercised poor judgment and evoked a few others to do the same. Despite political differences, the few individuals who did utter this should have kept their commentary to themselves.
Bringing us full circle… we encourage you to watch at least one of the ward debates and get informed on some of the candidates and you can make the call if there is any validity to the wild theories being thrown about.
A special “tip of the hat” should go out to Aldermen Dunstall and Johnston who participated in the Ward 3 Alderman debate and Alderman Kadwell in the Ward 2 debate. It is unfortunate that the rest of the incumbents declined or were unable to attend however, there are no surprises in these debates, and a genuine opportunity for them to connect to voters was missed.
The debates are being hosted by A Better Grimsby. Should you wish to contact them with questions or concerns, please e-mail pbesseling@cogeco.ca.