Thunder Bay mayoral candidates need substance: professor

A political science professor at Lakehead University says its shaping up to be an interesting race for mayor in Thunder Bay, and she hopes voters pay attention.

Laure Paquette says people can underestimate the importance of municipal politics, and the fact mayor and councillors make decisions on many issues that have a profound effect on residents.

"[They make decisions on] snow removal, garbage removal, the recreation all of those things that touch our everyday life in a way that the other two levels of government, provincial and federal, don't.

Paquette said a major campaign issue is the city's finances, and how best to balance costs, services and a shrinking budget.

She hopes the six candidates make promises that are feasible.

I want to see something that is realistic within the framework of the money the city has, she said.

We're at the point where they're going to have to start making tough decisions and choosing amongst priorities. So I want to see what's going to count.

'Sick of the wiggle room'

Paquette noted the mayor is only one voice at the council table and she wants to know how the winner plans to convince the rest of council to follow his vision.

The professor added she gets frustrated when mayoral candidates leave themselves so much wiggle room during campaigns, just in case, in the future, the rest of council doesn't agree with them.

"I'm actually sick of the wiggle room, Paquette said. [I want to say to candidates,] tell me what you mean. And also, tell me what you think you can achieve. And with that, I will be able to judge [and] I will be able to assess how good your judgement is."

The declared mayoral candidates are Colin Burridge, Shane Judge, Keith Hobbs, Ken Boshcoff, Henry Wojak and Doug McKay.

Paquette recently tweeted "six mayoral candidates: Boshcoff, Hobbs, Judge are principal; others (Wojak, Burridge, McKay) lack credibility but may get protest votes.

She also tweeted what she looks for in a mayoral candidate: judgment, steep learning curve, realistic election promises."

Multiple candidates could mean a split in the vote, Paquette added.

Voters go to the polls Oct. 27.