Campion won’t debate fellow candidate

Welland Mayor Frank Campion says he won’t debate a mayoral candidate he says is very negative, disrespectful and tries to intimidate and threaten.

“In my mind he has proven himself unworthy to have attention in a debate,” Campion said of candidate David Clow.

Campion, Clow and candidate Steven Soos are all seeking the mayor’s seat in the October municipal elections.

A live debate had been set for this Thursday on Your TV between the three men, but Campion cited a conflict with meetings in Toronto as the reason why he won’t be attending.

Clow and Soos have both said they’d be willing to debate Campion if a suitable time could be found that didn’t conflict with the mayor’s schedule.

Campion said other dates had been offered but he won’t debate Clow, who secretly recorded him in his office last year and later uploaded the talk to a YouTube channel.

Clow also recently interrupted a city council meeting, calling on the mayor to debate him. Campion called a recess until Clow left council chambers.

“Soos is an honourable candidate, I have no issues with him,” the mayor said.

He said Clow is a very negative person who misrepresents things and added the candidate came into his office a few months prior to the election nomination date and threatened to disrupt the mayor’s campaign.

“He was trying to influence me to withdraw … he’s gone beyond decent, respectful behaviour.”

Campion said he’s not afraid to debate either man, but his focus in the campaign is on making personal connections with voters.

“My time is best spent trying to communicate with the people of Welland,” he said, adding not everyone has cable TV.

The mayor said he’s happy to answer any questions residents may have about Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, the hiring of regional chief administrative officer Carmen D’Angelo or city council.

“I encourage people to ask me those questions,” the mayor said. “The personal connection is much more important to me. I can get in touch with the people of Welland and find out their concerns.”

Clow said it’s important the mayor debate him because his term is over.

“The mayor is not above reproach. The public has many questions for him ...” said Clow, adding people want to know why Campion voted in favour of hiring

D’Angelo at the Region.

Clow also cited ongoing issues with the conservation authority as something the mayor needs to answer for during a debate.

“All these questions need to be answered before anyone makes the mistake of voting for Mayor Campion.”

Clow said he didn’t threaten the mayor or try to influence him not to run.

“Mayor Campion will say that I am harassing him or people he knows by asking these questions, though I do not even know anyone that Mayor Campion would know; I am not familiar with him on a personal level,” Clow said in an email.

Soos said he is disappointed Campion refuses to participate in debates, even though alternative days were offered just for him.

“Campion needs to understand that the best way to represent Welland is right here at home. I have never in my political career seen an incumbent refuse attending a debate at all.”

Soos said it’s slap in the face to the people of Welland who have questions for their next mayor.

“Those questions could be about mental health and addictions, stalled development of the canal lands, the appointments of two Ward 5 councillors which the Ombudsman ruled as a contravention of the Municipal Act.”

He said other questions could include the city’s financial state, or the ensuing chaos at regional council, or how as a community Welland will to continue the fight for effective hospital services especially for our seniors.

“By not participating in the democratic process at all (the debate), Campion is straying from the public eye, even though he was elected on a platform of transparency.”

Soos said he’ll be present Thursday night at the debate with Clow, which he said now will be more of a fireside chat between the two candidates.