WOULD-BE MAYORS SQUARE OFF

Forget the parkade or property taxes, it was another P word that
dominated the media-sponsored mayoral debate - pot.

Tuesday night's (Nov. 8) debate started with Peter Milobar facing a
barrage of questions from members of the Canadian Safe Cannabis
Society, who quizzed the mayor over last week's raid and closure of
the group's office in North Kamloops.

Milobar said he didn't have an issue with people being prescribed
medical marijuana, but noted the city does not direct the RCMP or have
control over federal drug laws.

As for the do-not occupy order on the group's office, Milobar said the
city needs to verify the building is safe before people can return.

It was at times a wild and tense 45-minute debate as the four Kamloops
mayoral candidates - Milobar, Dieter Dudy, Brian Alexander and Gordon
Chow - fielded questions from the audience of more than 600 at
Thompson Rivers University's Grand Hall.

Milobar also defended the city's transit system and council's spending
habits, which include the construction of the Valleyview interchange
and bike path that went over budget.

Milobar pointed out any increase to bus service is up to the province
and BC Transit, adding the current council has never refused
additional hours of service offered by the Crown corporation.

Milobar also argued, despite the escalating costs of the interchange,
many other projects in the city have been carried out under budget.

Meanwhile, Dudy discussed his idea to create a year-round farmers'
market by building a facility that could be used in the winter and summer.

He also noted his support for a moratorium on the installation of
smart meters.

When asked about the escalating tax burden on residents over the
years, Dudy suggested the only way to control tax increases is to curb
spending or cut programs.

He said he would rather take a prudent look at spending.

The two mayoral frontrunners were asked what they believed was the top
priority for Kamloops in the next five years.

Milobar pointed to securing funding and realizing the implementation
of Royal Inland Hospital's master site plan, while Dudy said it would
be how the city survives the global economic climate.

The debate's oddest moment belonged to Alexander, who admitted to
being a marijuana user and asked how many in the audience, by a show
of hands, had never smoked pot.

The majority of hands remained down.

"The war on drugs is failing," Alexander said.

Alexander defended his recent legal troubles when asked how he could
be taken seriously as a candidate.

He said he was standing up for what he believed in and the truth about
his two run-ins with the law will eventually come out.

Alexander didn't go into specific detail about his two court cases,
which stem from traffic stops earlier this year.

"I'd rather die standing up then live on my knees," he said.

During his opening remarks, Chow said he wants to get rid of the
Interior Health Authority and replace it with a hospital board.

He also criticized the creation of a law school at Thompson Rivers
University, arguing other areas of learning should be pursued.

Though the debate received positive reviews from many in attendance,
the event ended on a dark note.

As Milobar was leaving the debate hall with his family, someone from
the crowd shouted at the mayor they hoped he gets cancer and dies.