Sam Katz VS Judy Wasylycia-Leis

Sam Katz against Judy Wasylycia-Leis. Today was the Mayoral Forum at Red River College – Princess Campus.

And it blew me away. The forum was very interesting, and if I can say, politics are hot, hot, hot.

Both candidates said surprising things to each other in between questions, like “My dear Sam Katz,” and “Thanks, Mom.” You can figure out who said what.

The forum was run by Richard Cloutier and broadcast live on CJOB. Cloutier moderated and took questions from the audience. It was great PR for the candidates to address the public in an open forum, especially at a college with mostly younger people.

If there is one thing that politicians are good at, it’s taking a question and bringing it back to the point they want to say.

Current Mayor Katz said he wants to attribute more provincial tax to the city. That’s a good idea, but Katz isn’t in charge of provincial politics. Katz mostly restated the programs and action he has already done for the city (pro baseball, basketball, police helicopter).

Judy Wasylycia-Leis spent most of her time complaining about the lack of action from Katz in the past 6 years, in her opinion. Judy was pushing her platform of investing more in community centres, what she thought was the root of crime. Most questions answered by Wasylycia-Leis were brought back to this point.

Katz promised:

-58 new police officers, 20 on gang unit

-Ex-gang members to help current gang members

-Potentially more provincial tax to city

Wasylycia-Leis promised:

-Community Centres with longer hours

-Give gang members city job

-Raise property tax 2% per year for 4 years

Near the end of the forum, Katz and Wasylycia-Leis got to ask each other a question. Katz was asked how he would continue to handle the sewage plan. He said he wants to save money for Winnipeggers and reveal the entire plan when finished.

Wasylycia-Leis was asked how she justifies her budget. She said all her receipts were in a box in her garage.

Both candidates unfortunately didn’t have much to say when asked about addressing poverty in Winnipeg.

Mayor Katz came off relaxed and experienced with the pressure and the facts of being mayor. This came with a few remarks to his opponent Wasylycia-Leis. After Wasylycia-Leis’s rebuttal to Katz’s tax comments, Katz jokingly added, “I feel like my mother is scolding me.” (Ouch)

Politics are kind of fun to talk about when you don’t have to be objective.

It might have just been bad luck, but Wasylycia-Leis got cut off by commercial breaks a few times in the forum and Katz did not.

“Wasylycia-Leis seems more concerned with the bad things Katz is doing rather than the good things she will do,” and I quote myself. It might be lame to do, but that's what I put in my notebook. It was just the feeling she gave with her answers.

Katz gave good PR when he was asked what would elevate the city. He said his top 3 were a light-rail transit, apartments downtown, and a NHL franchise would be fine (the crowd loved the last one).

To the same elevate the city question, Wasylycia-Leis only asked Katz, “Why haven’t we seen it?” She brought up good points that crime is getting worse and downtown is still not where they want it.

The forum was overall hot – very hot. At points the cameras were flashing, and the candidates had their chance to use the well-publicized event - you decide whether it was for good or bad PR.

In my humble opinion, Katz better persuaded my vote (as shown in pic).