Ingersoll Candidate Debate

Friday, 3 October 2014 02:13

A full house was treated to an all candidate debate at the Local 88 in Ingersoll.

INGERSOLL- The entire Union Hall at the Local 88 in Ingersoll was full of Ingersoll residents waiting to hear what new candidates and incumbents would do if elected into office. The debate itself was kept closely monitored for timing, where in some cases candidates had less than two minutes to share their plan for Ingersoll's future. Many citizens approached the microphone to present their own community concerns and each candidate was given time to respond. Many candidates focuses overlapped, some targeted the same issues including the proposed Walker landfill, with each taking a unique approach to tackling the issues presented. It was an unusual debate in that candidates were supporting each other and in some cases finishing each others sentences. Ingersoll Mayor Ted Comiskey described the interactions at the debate between candidates as a sense of 'camaraderie.'

Dominating the majority of constituent questions concerned the proposed Landfill. Mayoral candidate Tim Lobzun spoke out passionately on the proposed Walker landfill saying if elected he would make sure the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change-Glen Murray would 'eat this problem (landfill) for breakfast.' When asked if candidates would support any amendment put forth to fight the dump, all candidates were in agreement they would.

A number of concerns were raised including the dump being proposed across from the Ingersoll rural cemetery, where many veteran's are buried. One resident wanted to know how candidates would handle the rising OPP policing costs. Answers from candidates varied from saying the OPP costs were unsustainable to candidate Reagan Warnick-Franklin wanting to "bring Ingersoll police back." Mayor Ted Comiskey added that Oxford County OPP costs would be receiving a rebate, effective in 2015 for around $350,000.

Overall response to the debate from residents was positive. One Ingersoll man commented that the debate went 'well,' noting many of the candidates have similar platforms.