Mayoral candidates are ready to rumble tonight

Gary Bedryk (shown) and Sault Ste. Marie's three other mayoral candidates will square off tonight in a televised debate to be carried live on Shaw TV.

The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce Election Forum runs from 7 until 9 p.m.

If you'd prefer to watch the action in real life, you're welcome to sit in on the session in the Council Chambers at the Civic Centre.

Questions will be taken from the audience there.

Meanwhile, candidate Bedryk got the 'Campbell Treatment' Sunday during an hour-long appearance on EZ Rock Radio's Contact program.

To see what it's like to face program host John Campbell in the EZ Rock studio, please click here.

Campbell has repeatedly said he thinks mayoral candidates should have at least one term of experience as a councillor.

That would eliminate both Bedryk and Patti Jennings as candidates, and would have kept John Rowswell from running last time around.

Kooks, good people

"There is no other way for me to distinguish the kooks from the good people," Campbell said.

Bedryk, 41, responded that sometimes a new hire can do a better job than an experienced employee.

"It all comes down to personality and drive," he said.

Bedryk talked about the need to complete the job on numerous initiatives currently underway, including the Gateway project, the new hospital and a new arena, which he says should include a convention centre.

Bellevue Zoo

Bedryk wants to bring back the zoo animals to Bellevue Park and says they could be housed at the Gateway development over the winter.

He was critical of Mayor Rowswell, referring to him as a "lone wolf."

Bedryk spoke well, however, of Chief Administrative Officer Joe Fratesi.

"He [Fratesi] is a valuable employee of the City. He gets things done."

Bedryk wants the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corp. to report to City Council.

At present, the EDC is an autonomous corporation that receives money from the City and other sources, but reports to its own board of directors.

Full-time mayor

Bedryk said he'd quit his job with a local mental health agency if elected, and he's concerned that the mayoralty is slowly being reduced to a non-functioning, part-time job.

He left open the possibility, however, that he might take on some contract work to top up his income as mayor.

Bedryk described himself as a team player who would nonetheless not stand for any dissent among councillors.

He said that he would similarly prohibit any "lone wolf manoeuvres" by City staff.

Wrong radio station

If the length of time a guest survives until being interrupted and corrected by host John Campbell is any indication, Bedryk fared worst among the three candidates who've endured the program so far.

Just seconds into his appearance, Bedryk remarked how nice it was to be given time on Q-104 Radio, prompting Campbell to interject that the program was actually being broadcast on sister station EZ Rock.

On previous programs, Campbell interviewed Mayor John Rowswell and challenger Patti Jennings.

Next Sunday at 8 a.m., Campbell will interview the final mayoral candidate, Ward 6 Councillor Peter Vaudry.

SooToday.com background articles

To read a SooToday.com article about Gary Bedryk's background, please click here.

To read about John Campbell's earlier interviews with two other mayoral candidates, please use these links:

Mayor admits making mistakes What two psychologists found inside Patti Jennings' head