A glass half empty, or a glass half full?

Can an election be lost in fifteen to twenty minutes? That is the question the two candidates can ask after the great Podunk mayoralty debate.

Incumbent Herb Pond and challenger Gloria Rendell squared off at the PAC on Wednesday night, with the opening statements out of the way by 7:15, the tone thus was set for the rest of the nights festivities.

With their opening remarks completed, the two participants staked out their spot on the Big Box issue, which seemed to be the topic on many minds as the debate got underway.

Ms. Rendell came out against the incursion of the Big Boxes at the expense of our boutique economy, suggesting that Podunk was fine as it is, a home to many small and local businesses.

Mayor Herb counters with a declaration of “If you’re against Big Box type stores, you had better get rid of me”, then perhaps thinking of what he had just said, he modified it with, or at least get yourself a council to slow me down.” He also suggested that Podunk already has a number of Big Box stores on its outskirts and Podunkians regularly shop at them, they simply drive the hour and a bit to Terrace.

And with that, no later than 7:20, the lines were drawn as far as retail development in Podunk goes, Herb slyly suggesting that his opponent might wish to “freeze” development here, throwing in some roadblocks to growing the city.

With a feisty panel of four locals, the mayor seemed on the defensive for the early part of the debate asking the moderator if he was to debate with the panel, as well as his challenger.

Rendell brought up the past performance by the Economic Development Corporation, asking if the city wisely spent money on such projects as the waterfront fish plant that never opened, the sulphur plant that never started business and of course that long trail of money and tears known as SCI.

At times, the panelists on the stage seemed to be more inquisitive than the current city council has been, asking many of the questions that Podunkians have been wondering about for the last three years, but somehow never got asked in the city council chambers.

Some of the social issues of Homelessness and teenagers wandering the streets with nothing to do were discussed. The Mayors' solution was to continue to create jobs for their parents, giving them a better chance to take care of their children with both housing and supervision. Ms. Rendell suggested more communication with the province, to try and change their direction and improve local services here.

The Mayor took a shot at his challengers interest in the situation, by stating that he had been attending Kaien Island anti poverty meetings over the last three years, but where was she?

Parking took up a bit of time in the debate, the challenger suggesting that Parking meters might be a valuable tool in controlling the parking situation and generating revenue. The mayor countered, by suggesting with the advent of a Big Box village on the outskirts of town, the timing is probably not right to inflict meters on the downtown merchants.

Wild Stock Fish Farms took perhaps their final blow in the debate; Rendell was completely against the idea, saying that she would rather support the fishermen and women of the north coast over the fish farm industry. The Mayor said that early on Marine Harvest was the only group looking to create jobs, so they kicked the tires with them. He said that later on, he and his council had heard the population's concerns and had not actively worked on that file in a few years now.

The Airport and its Ferry as always attracted a bit of attention, the challenger suggesting that Podunkians would not be against a raise in the fees to up to 25 dollars. The mayor recounted the struggle against some local operators when they centralized the pick up and drop off in the downtown core again.

For good measure a bit of Terrace bashing took place, the mayor suggesting that just because Terrace calls their airport a regional one, it doesn’t necessarily make it so. He also said that once Podunk grows as he says it will, so shall our airport.

The Fire Department became a hot issue, Ms. Rendell not at all supportive of the current idea to back up the regular force with a volunteer based operation. She also said she would make all info public regarding the plan. The Mayor countered with a statement that we cannot afford a Cadillac service, the trained Auxiliary force would supplement our paid department members.

The final word on the issue went to the challenger, who said that budget cuts should have taken place elsewhere other than in the protective services.

The Container port got a mention during the debate. With the mayor stating that any infrastructure requirements wouldn’t be needed until a few years down the line. Ms Rendell wondered how he would be able to pay for any infrastructure anyways, considering the fragile state of the city finances.

One interesting question from the panel was the “What accomplishment would you see after three years if you were mayor”

Ms Rendell said that she would have a solid financial plan in place and reduce the huge debt that was coming our way in a very short time. She said that if she doesn’t succeed in getting that plan in place, she wouldn’t be there to look back at her three years in office. She observed that Podunkians needed to see things clearly, the city simply can’t spend any more money that it doesn’t have.

The Mayor looked at having reunited Podunkians in his future three year term, repatriating those workers that had to leave town to find work. He talked of growing our schools, a telephone and cable company producing revenues, new taxes from new developments at the Atlin uplands and the BC Hydro site.

Fiscal responsibility was another issue that created some worthwhile quotes. Cuts to services were asked about; the challenger said she would not commit to any cuts to services and such, suggesting a more proactive approach with the provincial gov’t and a partnership with Regional District to find common areas of interest. She also suggested another crack at the provincial government, to try and recapture some of that outstanding Skeena debt money that the city lost out on. She hoped to keep taxes the same.

The Kennedy report, commissioned by the Provincial Government to examine Prince Rupert’s financial situation, garnered a bit of attention. The mayor stating that the current council has done a marvelous job so far of trying to handle the financial crisis as outlined by Kennedy. He pointed to the selling the golf course to a local non profit organization, trying to sell the campground, reducing the police service by 8 members, reorganizing the Fire Dept. all tough choices that had to be made in tough times. He said they were only trying to hang on until we can grow things around here again.

That brought the night to a close and on to the final arguments and the fond farewells.

In his closing statements, the Mayor, Mr. Pond reinforced his belief that we are very close to turning the corner in Podunk that we needed continuity on council and should not change the people that had steered us through the crisis. He said the budget, he and his council have worked under holds the fort, while we rebuild. He commented that he felt that the Pulp mill sale may soon go through; adding jobs back to our community. He finished off with a statement that we need a leader that is positive about these things. A leader that is full time leadership - plus. And a mayor ready to work on a full time basis.

Ms. Rendell suggested that it really was time for a change at city hall. She offered a closing rebuttal, to Mr. Pond’s statement about that hopeful SCI sale to Sun Wave. She said she hoped that the gov’t department supposedly working on that file, wasn’t the same department that did such a good job on the SCI debt relief situation. As for her qualifications for the job, she said she was someone with a sound business base. She wondered how the city could keep going the way it has been of late, not even able to afford repairs to the 2nd street bridge with the state of our budget. She finished off with her positioning statement of wanting to provide a socially responsible approach, coupled with a fiscal responsibility.

As the clock ticked past the 8:30 mark, the debate was brought to an end, no audience questions were allowed, Podunkians merely the studio audience in that channel 10 presentation, of the Herb and Gloria show.

It was a night that gave us two options, one a candidate with the glass half full, the other suggesting that the current state of things is more than a glass half empty. That in a nutshell is our option as Podunk Election Day gets closer. Which glass, do Podunkians believe holds the magic elixir for the future of the city?