Last night (October 3), candidates for Mayor, City Council and Rocky View Trustee presented their platforms and fielded questions at an all candidates forum hosted by the Airdrie Chamber of Commerce at the Bert Church Theatre.

A total of 29 candidates running in the three municipal races took part in the forum. All five trustee candidates, as well as 21 council candidates and three mayoral candidates participated. Mayoral candidates Blaine Astra and Bernie Biever, and council candidates Serge Desrochers and Tanveer Taj were not at the forum. The night was moderated by Brian Balsen.

The evening was divided into three sections. A panel of the school trustee candidates was introduced first, followed by the City Council candidates, and finally the mayoral candidates. Each candidate was given two minutes to introduce themselves and their platform at the podium, after which they answered questions from those in attendance. Balsen drew names to determine the order candidates answered the questions, and each candidate was allowed one minute to answer while remaining seated. 

The event was well attended by the community. Chamber Executive Director Lorna Hunt estimated 370 community members attended the event, filling the theatre nearly to capacity.

Trustee candidates Melyssa Bowen, Todd Brand, Jim Forrest, Jason Spratt and Pam Thursfield each answered five questions posed by the audience. Answers ranged from how they would address the effects of legalized marijuana in schools to the balance of student privacy versus parent involvement in regards to gay-straight alliances, and whether they support the province's level of funding for schools of choice to how they would approach bullying.

Council candidates answered questions asked by members of the audience as well as written questions submitted during an intermission. Because of the large pool of candidates, each of the candidates only answered one question. Those questions included their level of support of the Airdrie and Area Health Benefits Cooperative, their goals around transit, their position on the Airdrie Main Street Square, and their views on the need for a City owned multiplex.

The night concluded with the platforms and questions directed to mayoral candidates Peter Brown, Fred Burley, and Marie Lauer. Residents wanted to know how they would build consensus between Councillors with strong and differing opinions, how they would engage the community, how they could reduce property taxes, and how they would support recreational opportunities for seniors.

All candidates seemed well versed in the issues and confident in their answers. Airdrie MLA Anglea Pitt was complimentary of the pool of candidates, but was a little disappointed that time constraints limited the number of questions.

"I think we really do have some great people running, I think there's some very thoughtful people running," said Pitt. "I think maybe it's time for our community to change the way that we do this forum so that we have some more time to really hear from the candidates a little more in-depth before we mark our ballots."

The limited number of questions, particularly for council candidates, was a common criticism in the foyer of the Bert Church Theatre and also online following the event. Past President of the Chamber of Commerce Wade Cormier felt that the event was a success, but acknowledged the disappointment some felt that council candidates only had the chance to answer a single question.

"I do understand that it would be nice to dedicate more time to each group of candidates. This year, this is the way it worked out. Next election, who knows. It could be vastly different."

Cormier spoke with the candidates, and was told they were all happy to have taken part in the forum. He said the Chamber would be open to changing how the forum is done in the future, with the possibility of holding separate forums for each of the races. 

Even so, he felt the event was outstanding, and hopes others did as well.

"I felt it worthwhile. I certainly got to know each and every candidate a little bit better, both from their platform and from answering of questions. I'm very happy to have attended myself." 

 

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