Inuvik (Oct 08/04) - From potholes to pipelines, these were just a few of the issues raised at Monday evening's municipal election all-candidates forum.

Kicking things off in anticipation of the Oct. 18 elections were the mayoral candidates, newcomer Kurt Wainman and incumbent Peter Clarkson.

Though Wainman admitted that this was his first foray into politics at any level, he pointed to his success building a multi-million dollar business as requisite experience for the post of mayor. Wainman also said that he was against making the mayor a full-time position. After the forum, he told the Drum that if elected, he would rescind council's decision.

Making his case for re-election, incumbent Peter Clarkson drew attention to the town's achievements during his tenure and vowed to make Inuvik an even cleaner community.

As to the issue of a full-time mayor, Clarkson said he supported the move as a necessary step towards preparing to take advantage of the coming development. "We need to be there in full force to make sure the taxpayers are not subsidizing the pipeline."

Apart from Wainman, no other candidate for council was against the move to make the mayor's position full-time.

When the question of increased spending was broached, the general sentiment among candidates was that a continuing effort must be made to improve the roads and measures to increase recreational activities for youth.

Karen King said she supported increased spending in the area of waste management.

Take responsibility

"It's time for the town to take responsibility for implementing a full recycling plan for the community," she said.

Keeping the fire department properly outfitted was also discussed. Vince Sharpe suggested that the town match the department "dollar for dollar" towards getting a new ladder truck. While not taking Sharpe's line, incumbent deputy mayor Clarence Wood and Wainman both said that increasing the department's readiness should be a priority. Though Clarkson agreed, he noted that money put towards a new fire truck would take funds away from other areas.

Candidates then revealed which issues not yet discussed they thought were important for the community.

Wood said affordable housing and a full-time addiction treatment facility, would be positive things for the community. Incumbent councillor Derek Lindsay noted that the cemetery was something that needed to be evaluated in the near future and suggested that the landfill be moved.

When the question of issues came around to Terry Halifax, he wasted no time in lambasting the former council for what he felt was unfair zoning practices.

"It's alright to go from country residential to light industrial so somebody can park some trucks, but I was disappointed that council wasn't able to rezone something from light industrial to country residential so somebody could get mortgage insurance," he said in reference to a friend who encountered that problem earlier this year.

Halifax later drew applause for criticising the town for its management of the recreation complex. "Madison Square Gardens can have a circus, a hockey game and concert all in one day but here we have to close (the rec centre) down for a month because somebody from down south wants to use the building for four days," he said, in reference to the Petroleum Show preparations that limit access to the centre.

Paul Komaromi, Victor Ciboci, Linda Binder and Maureen Cournoyea were not present at the forum. Delma Pielak withdrew her name from the election.