All-Candidates Forum focuses attention on issues affecting downtown Lethbridge

The first forum for this year's municipal election was held on September 29 at the Public Library. The much-anticipated forum attracted an overwhelming crowd of citizens who were anxious to hear from candidates for the first time during the election campaign. The campaign will see 30 aldermanic and 6 mayoralty candidates vying for City Council positions.

With just two hours to conduct the forum, candiates were allowed one-minute for an introduction and one-minute for each response (total of two questions per candidate). Although it was a relatively short time-frame for responses, it did provide the public with an opportunity to get to know who the candidates are, what they hope to accomplish if elected and how they feel about downtown revitalization.

The Downtown All-Candidates Forum was designed to ask important questions pertaining to the 'Heart of Our City'. Each media panel member was supplied with two questions that were prepared by the Downtown Business Revitalization Zone (DBRZ). The panel members were also encouraged to pose other questions relating to the downtown and to the greater community.

Although private developers, business owners, property owners and City Council have taken great strides towards the goal of successfully revitalizing our downtown core, there is still much more to accomplish. It is important that the incoming City Council build on the momentum that has already taken place by continuing to support and invest in the development of a clean, safe, attractive and economically viable downtown ... a downtown that our community can take great pride in.

The All-Candidates Forum was sponsored by the DBRZ and the Lethbridge Public Library. Special thanks to Doug McArthur who did an excellent job as moderator, to Marda Schindeler from the Citizen Society Research Lab at the Lethbridge College who helped to develop and compile the questions and data for our City Council Candidate Study questionnaire and to our media panel. The results of the downtown questionnaire will be posted on the Lethbridge College Citizen Society Research Lab www.lethbridgecollege.ca website prior to October 18.

The Municipal Election takes place on Monday, October 18. For more information on the election, visit www.lethbridge.ca.