Quinte West’s mayoral candidates and those running for election in Trenton Ward, discussed the issues at an event hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Trenton, on September 19, 2019. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
Quinte West’s mayoral candidates and those running for seats in Trenton Ward got their first chance to outline their platforms on Wednesday night.
During the event hosted by the Trenton Kiwanis Club, candidates were given five minutes each to speak about their connections to the city, their motivation for running and to tell residents why they deserve to be elected next month.
Members of the public also submitted questions for candidates, which were drawn at random and focused on the future of the waterfront, downtown development, business and resident attraction, the housing crisis and infrastructure issues, among others
Each candidate was given a limited time to answer and no debate was allowed.
Nine of ten Trenton Ward candidates attended including Stuart Gilboord, Leslie Roseblade, Andre deVries, Michael Kotsovos, Fred Kuypers, Tyler Rickey, David O’Neil, Sally Freeman and Paul Bordonaro, while Mark Kennedy did not attend.
Both mayoral candidates, incumbent Jim Harrison and Duncan Armstrong, took part as well.
Harrison tells Quinte News, most of the questions hit points on his platform.
Armstrong called the format challenging and fair.
You can see the questions and hear the candidates’ responses below and click here to see our candidate profiles and learn more about the people running in Trenton Ward.
Profiles for those running in other wards of Quinte West will be added Thursday and Friday.
The questions answered by candidates were drawn at random, with each candidate given three minutes to answer the first and two minutes to answer the second.
Here are the questions and how they answered:
Jim Harrison
What do you see the future of our waterfront being?
Do you agree with the current provincial governments style of government?
Duncan Armstrong
Would you vote for a tax increase for infrastructure programs?
What is your position on the recent 18% council remuneration?
Stuart Gilboord
How do you think we can attract more family doctors to the area?
Are you a member of a service club?
Leslie Roseblade
What’s your opinion regarding the ward system after 20 years since amalgamation?
What is your first priority within the first month of being elected?
Andre deVries
What do you feel would attract, or keep more residents in Quinte West?
Is the city doing enough to support our youth, if not, what are you suggesting?
Michael Kotsovos
How many councillors do you think we need?
What are your strongest characteristics to bring to council?
Fred Kuypers
What will you do specially to revitalize the downtown?
What is the most critical infrastructure problem in the city?
Tyler Rickey
What do you think is the most pressing concern for us to address in Quinte West?
Do you feel Quinte West is a good place to raise a family and why?
David Hugh O’Neil
What do you feel Quinte West’s best asset is?
The recycling plant on West street is causing concern about the smell and blowing of garbage, how would you address the issue of the plant?
Sally Freeman
What is your opinion on resolving the state of the roads in Trenton?
What do you see for the future of our waterfront?
Paul Bordonaro
When will King Street be paved?
Is the city doing enough to support our youth, if not what would you suggest?
Once more, you can see photos of the candidates, plus learn more about them and their backgrounds, by clicking here to visit our candidate profile page.
Profiles for candidates in other wards of Quinte West will be posted by the weekend.
