Who won the CBRM mayor’s debate?

Assessing on-stage candidate debate performances

Like many voters in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, I tuned into the Sept. 30, CBC-hosted mayor's debate streamed on Facebook, to better understand what each candidate had to offer in the way of vision to improve our community.

All six candidates were present on stage with radio host Steve Sutherland as the moderator. No live audience was present.

Although questions could be submitted to the CBC by the public in advance of the debate it appeared to me the show's producers selected questions that best reflected the network's mandate of diversity and inclusion but did not pick questions that addressed many of the hot issues in the community such as a new library location or the lack of public consultation by council regarding the relocation of a new fire station in downtown Sydney.

Despite several audio and video glitches during the two hours, the mayor's debate did provide some entertainment.

Everything from the candidates' physical appearance, English language proficiency, tone of voice, level of energy, ability to clearly project their vision and remain collected under pressure was on display.

For most of us it did not take long into the debate to get a feel for the candidates.

Both Archie MacKinnon and Chris Abbass came across as angry, loud and with little substance to their platforms. Both pledged to fight other levels of government and anyone else who would challenge their vision for CBRM. Both seemed more comfortable as critics rather that projecting a better way forward.

Kevin MacEachern came across as sincere and wellintentioned but looked a little underdressed on stage for a mayor's debate. He did not display a deep understanding of municipal politics or the mandate of municipal government.

John Strasser looked the role of a professional on stage. While he has an impressive education and work history, he was mostly monotone and unimpressive in his responses.

He asked the moderator early in the debate if he could pose a question to the mayor on whether he was the only member of council privy to confidential files on container port development. Once the mayor agreed, he seemed to lose interest in other questions that followed.

Amanda McDougall presented herself as a strong and confident woman. Her freshman term as a CBRM District 8 councillor has benefited her understanding of how municipal government works and its limitations. She came prepared, took notes during the debate, and was not shy to jump into the open discussion with her views.

It was a bit naive of her to claim that the police force's above-average absenteeism was a problem caused only by overworking our police force without proper supports and not to recognize abuse of sick leave as one of the causes.

High on her election platform policy list is a commitment to develop a poverty reduction plan and take a stand on food insecurity. It is valiant as a municipality to be supportive of poverty reduction but it is not a municipal mandate and there is no budget for this initiative.

Likewise, her platform has a focus on climate change which is a provincial and federal government mandate. Again, the municipality can be supportive by partnering and cost-sharing government programs supporting conservation and emissions reduction but there is no municipal budget to electrify transit buses or put solar panels on police and fire stations.

If elected mayor it would be my hope she would come to the political centre on these issues and refocus council on the core mandates of police reform, fire, roads and infrastructure. Keeping our municipality looking clean and tidy would be a big step in the right direction.

I do like her plan as mayor to reach out into the community for expert advice when difficult challenges arise. That has been a fault of this past council.

Cecil Clarke is a polished politician and that was evident during the debate. He is an accomplished orator, presents himself well on stage, and can manage criticism.

As the incumbent, he was under fire from other candidates during the debate but was able to stay composed and articulate his vision for CBRM. His political experience gained through his failures and his successes would be a significant asset going forward.

His knowledge of the Municipal Government Act, its limitations, his proven ability to win over council members to his viewpoint all add up to a person who knows his way around local government issues.

But after eight years as mayor and a 2016 promise not to run again, residents wonder if his heart is in the job. Will he quickly jump ship if another career opportunity arises? Can he be trusted?

It looks to me like a twoperson race for mayor.