Candidate reactions to the sale of Woodstock Hydro hot button topic at Woodstock candidate debate.
WOODSTOCK- 277 strong showed up to Goff Hall to put Woodstock candidates under a microscope. The debate for some was the first opportunity to meet and observe how candidates articulated their responses to panel and audience questions. The debate started with county and city councillor candidates answering questions from a media panel, each having limited time to answer, sometimes 30 seconds. The crowd was engaged, laughing, clapping and catcalling- the mood changing with the issues presented.
There was no shortage of controversy either with several hot button issues arising including the sale of Woodstock Hydro. Many of the new candidates held a consensus that they would not have supported the sale. Candidate Shawn Shapton commented that their was 'a lack of communication,' Jerry Acchione said the sale 'stinks' and that he 'doesn't like it at all.' Meanwhile incumbents, who voted yes to the sale, struggled to defend their decisions to the sale within the time allowed. Councillor Bill Bes called the sale 'a good business decision and one that the city will benefit from,' Councillor Jim Northcott said that press releases and public notices at the time the sale was being considered were distributed to the public and in the media.
One resident had this to say about the responses to the Woodstock Hydro question. "I find it interesting because what a lot of community residents are upset about is the process not that actual sale and a lot of candidates talked about the sale as oppose to the process and none of the candidates who said they voted for the sale admitted that there was any issue with the process, which I found interesting."
Mayoral Candidate Trevor Birtch added that it "was a little disappointing that the issue of hydro was not delta with as much clarity as during the county council candidates question and answer period."
Mayoral Candidates Primary Focus
Other topics addressed included how candidates would revitalize the downtown core; how they would oppose the proposed landfill.
One question raised by a resident asked what candidates would do to accommodate the growing senior population. Answers ranged from affordable housing to cheaper, safer transportation options.
The majority of candidates agreed that there needs to be an increased police presence in the downtown core; however they reminded residents that it comes at a cost. Another question that was presented was how candidates would oppose the proposed landfill, which would not reside in Woodstock. New candidate Jonnathon Brownlee suggested an increased visual representation of Woodstock's oppostion to the landfill.
Residents’ reactions to the debate:
"Our city is changing for the better and I think we do need a little more youth and perception of the future that some of the other candidates lack at this point."
One Twitter poster commented on the crowd in attendance at Goff Hall.
@1047HeartFM sadly not enough of todays youth can be spotted in that audience #takepart #futureisours
— Karla Moore (@klizmay) October 7, 2014
"It's important that we give thanks to everyone who comes forward and runs for election because not everybody will do it."
As for whether the debate had an impact on voter's decisions:
"No I'm going to pay a lot more attention to what happens in the next two or three weeks before I make up my mind for sure."
"Yes it did, I came with a few questions myself and I had them answered."
"Listening to them speak has changed my perception of how they will govern our city and maybe changed my vote."
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Mayoral Candidates reactions to debate:
Michael Harding-"What I thought was great was that the public turned out in such large numbers and that they had serious questions to ask us."
Pat Sobeski- "Considering the number of candidates and the constraint on time I thought all those things considered it went pretty well."
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