Candidate a no-show at Ward 2 public forum

Last night's Ward 2 public forum was short one candidate.

Michael Selvers did not attend.

This wasn't really a surprise to some of the people at Civic Centre.

SooToday.com has not been able to confirm it directly with Selvers but apparently he wanted to withdraw from the race but was unable to because he missed the deadline for withdrawal.

Last night, that left the two incumbents to answer questions put to them from Algoma University, the Chamber of Commerce and people in the gallery.

The two candidates often agreed on or expanded upon the other's statements.

On a few issues they clearly had different perspectives but still tended to look for common ground rather than openly disagree.

When asked how she would vote on a particularly contentious issue if the majority of her constituents disagreed with her personal view, Myers said people already know what they are getting.

"It's not hard to make a decision when you know what your values are," said Susan Myers. "I think I've been very clear and transparent about who I am. I'm a Christian. My values are based on Christian faith. I have served my constituents with honesty and integrity."

Sheehan's answer to the question took a different approach.

He said he would deal with each issue on an individual basis and, in some cases, he might try to find out what the majority of his constituents thought about the issue by asking them about it when he sees them in church, in coffee shops, while shopping or at an event.

"I try to make most of my decisions with consultation with my constituents," Sheehan said. "I try to represent their voice."

One issue the two incumbents disagreed on somewhat became apparent when they were asked whether they thought Sault Ste. Marie needs a leash-free zone for dogs and whether it should be on Topsail Island.

"I disagree 100 percent," said Myers. "There should be a leash-free zone but it absolutely should not be on Topsail Island.

She talked about this issue coming before City Council not long after the last election and how councillors not only decided they would not make Topsail Island a leash-free zone at that time but not in the future either.

"Staff came forward with several alternative locations and I told the group that I would get behind and fully support them if they could agree on one of those locations," said Myers. "To my knowledge they have not yet been able to do that but my offer still stands."

Sheehan said he was not so vehemently opposed to Topsail Island being a leash-free zone for dogs.

He said that dog owners, their dogs and others who want to use that part of Bellevue Park could do so together without interfering with each others' activities.

"There should be more than one area," Sheehan said.

He talked about other communities having smaller leash-free zones in many neighbourhoods rather than one consolidated zone and thought that would be both possible and desirable in Sault Ste. Marie.

Candidates were also asked what they would like to see done with the Sault Area Hospital site and the old Northern Breweries site.

Both candidates suggested the question was not theirs to answer because those buildings were owned and operated by non-government groups.

Other issues the candidates touched on involved the economy and jobs in Sault Ste. Marie, transportation and the environment.

The forums continue at City Council chambers tonight with Wards 3 and 4 candidates taking their turn.