Cambridge Mayoral debate
Posted Oct 8, 2010 03:44:42 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The candidates for mayor of Cambridge were on the hotseat last night in the latest 570 News/Rogers TV municipal election debate.
Doug Craig, Andrew Johnson and Linda Whetham were quizzed on such issues as amalgamation, the mayor’s salary and use of economic stimulus funding.
While Cambridge is not part of the current K-W amalgamation debate, all three had
strong opinions on the matter: whether it should also be on the Cambridge ballot.
Craig maintains over 80% of Cambridge residents don’t want it and there’s proof amalgamation does not result in cost savings.
Johnson says he is opposed to Cambridge being a part of the amalgamation equation, but says he would still like residents to have their say and would support having it on the ballot.
Whetham says she too is opposed to amalgamation and while campaigning she has yet to come across one resident who wants to join with Kitchener and Waterloo.
Johnson’s pledge, if elected mayor, to forgo a salary for his first year in office generated criticism from the other two candidates who both called it unrealistic and taking away from the real issues.
Johnson defended his promise, saying he wants to lead by example, especially when it comes time to negotiate new contracts with city employees.
