Fort Erie mayoral candidates spar over big issues
First jabs thrown in short order between Passero, Redekop
Mayoral candidates in Fort Erie went head-to-head Tuesday in the first public debate of the election cycle, and wasted little time throwing the first jabs.
“We’ve gotten pretty good at getting by, but I want us to do better,” said mayoral challenger Stephen Passero in his opening remarks. “As mayor, your role is to help grow your community, not lend support to special interest groups from out of town, or out of country.”
Passero, who is looking to wrest the seat from incumbent Wayne Redekop, spent the evening painting the
mayor as someone who is aligned with environmental activists and wealthy American cottagers who control much of the town’s waterfront access.
In turn, Redekop, who is seeking a fifth non-consecutive term as mayor, took aim at what he implied was Passero’s inexperience and lack of qualifications to sit in the mayor’s seat.
“This is not an entry-level job. It takes experience and it takes someone with reliable work ethic,” said Redekop in his opening remarks. “I have a proven record of success, as a lawyer, as the mayor, and in my personal life.”
Once the opening pleasantries were out of the way, the candidates dove straight into many of the town’s biggest current issues, including purchase of Fort Erie Race Track, how to get better beachfront access for the public, merits of the economic development and tourism corporation, and the Point Abino Lighthouse.
The first question of the night concerned beachfront access. This summer, private beachfront cottage owners and the regular beach-going public again found themselves at odds over access to the shoreline, and the candidates were asked how they would address that problem.
Passero said he has spoken with many of the private homeowners groups that control large swaths of the beach, and they don’t have issue with people walking along the beach, but when people have bonfires or parties on the privately-owned side, that’s where the issues arise.
“Unfortunately, a few bad apples are spoiling it for the bunch,” said Passero.
Better enforcement of bylaws on both sides of the beach is the key to solving the issue, he said.
Redekop pointed out he was mayor in 2001 when the town spent $2 million to buy back 300 metres of Bay Beach from a private homeowners group that controlled it. He said the town should look at other opportunities to buy back more of that property.
“We want to own as much of our waterfront as we can,” said Redekop.
The next question was about the potential for the town to purchase Fort Erie Race Track, or provide financial assistance to a local group looking to purchase it. The town recently held a series of closed-door meetings about that scenario.
Redekop was adamant town ownership of the track should not be pursued.
“The town should not be in the business of running other businesses,” said Redekop. “We have other things we need to do, we have roads to fix.”
Passero said the situation is complicated, and town ownership should be explored if it makes financial sense.
“I’m not in favour of just cutting a cheque to purchase the track, however, it’s not time to simply close off those decisions entirely,” said Passero, who noted the prospect of the slots returning could end up being lucrative, since the person who owns the track (in this case, U.S. businessperson Carl Paladino) gets a cut of the proceeds from the slot machines. If the town is the owner, the slots would provide a revenue stream directly to town hall.
“We need to make sure we can get in on that,” said Passero.
The next two questions in a row were both about the hottest topic in town: the Point Abino Lighthouse.
Candidates were asked if they would continue to fund the lighthouse tours (which the town’s tourism department says is a money-losing operation) and if they would provide the additional $15,000 which the Point Abino Lighthouse Preservation Society is asking the town for maintenance work. They were also asked what can be done to get better public access to the lighthouse, despite the town having paid $1.5 million to repair it, and another $4,000 annually to the private homeowners association which controls the only road access.
Redekop, who was mayor in 2003 when the town agreed to purchase the lighthouse, defended that decision and said the structure is an important piece of history, and is a federally recognized heritage site. He said the current access agreement is not good enough, and vowed to work on a better deal.
“I have a good relationship with the executive of the Point Abino association,” said Redekop. “I would work to get them to expand the times we can go to the lighthouse, or, reduce the amount of funding we provide them, or maybe, even get them to make a donation back to us.”
For his part, Passero said the funding request should be turned town, and tours should be scrapped unless they can be paid for by donations and fundraising, not public tax dollars.
“If I can fundraise $40,000 every year to keep the Kinsmen Pool open, then I think the individuals who are passionate about the lighthouse, they can fundraise the $4,000 every year if they want to keep those tours going,” said Passero.
When council voted to spend the $1.5 million on the lighthouse restoration in 2012, Passero was a ward councillor. However, he was quick to remind people at the debate that he was one of only two other councillors to vote against spending that money. He was also skeptical about Redekop’s ability to negotiate a better deal.
“Our mayor has had four years to make a call to his friends behind the gate and get a better deal, so why hasn’t he?” said Passero. “We shouldn’t spend any more money on this, we’ve already spent much more than we ever should have.”
After a solid 10 minutes of back-and-forth debate on the lighthouse, candidates moved on to the perennial subject of Fort Erie Economic Development and Tourism Corp. (EDTC). Unlike many other municipalities which have an EDTC as a department within town hall, in Fort Erie it is an arm’s-length corporation which operates independently from the rest of municipal staff, while funded publicly through a municipal grant.
Redekop said he’s open to options regarding the EDTC, and would like to re-examine the exact nature of the EDTC’s contract with the town.
“It’s worth looking at alternatives, and that could mean moving it into town hall,” said Redekop. “I would want to look at how our contract is structured, and would consider whatever options come forward from that.”
Passero said the current structure of the EDTC as an outside operation should remain intact.
“I believe they are best suited as a separate entity,” said Passero, who noted the town can control the EDTC through budget deliberations every year, because its finances are entirely controlled by the municipality.