With mayor Fiacco conspicuously absent, the mayoralty debate at the Cathedral Area Community Association lacked the drama and controversy of the October 2 contest at the University of Regina.

To the disappointment of the muck-raking citizen journalists in the crowd, yesterday's “mayoralty debate” at the Cathedral Community Centre more resembled a fireside chat than a political contest among competing visions for the city, as about 60 concerned community members gathered to engage in respectful and thought-provoking discussion of pressing local issues.

ActUpInSask hopes for a quick return to the sort of no-holds-barred slug-fest (replete with clever zingers and telling slips-of-the-tongue for citizen journalists to dutifully record and publish) that makes for interesting alternative news stories.

Mayor Fiacco was reportedly at a "charity event" yesterday evening, and sent his regrets. The mayor was offered two alternate dates next week, but indicated that he would not be able to attend those either.

Comments

fear factor Written by oswald on 2006-10-13 14:16:30 Oh, and rumour has it that Fiacco spoke at a business fundraiser lunch today, and is visibly worried by the CCFR. He apparently told the crowd that the CCFR doesn't love Regina, that businesses would flee the city if Holmes won, and that he, Fiacco, has a "vision," while the coalition has only an "agenda."    Apparently opening up city hall to broadly based democratic participation is an "agenda."    (If anyone was at this event and can confirm or deny the account, please do so.)

if a candidate falls in the forest.... Written by Citizen Wilson on 2006-10-13 22:33:31 ....does anybody care?    What is the sound of one politician debating?

What is the sound of one politician deba Written by oswald on 2006-10-14 09:09:57 Rather civilized, actually. It allowed Holmes the space to articulate his constructive vision for the city in response to thoughtful questions from concerned citizens.    And what is the sound of an incumbant not showing up to a mayoralty debate?    Brawk! Brawk! Brawk!

Written by Guest on 2006-10-15 12:04:02 I don't blame Pat for not showing up, to think he is worried about Holmes is absurd. Holmes has about the same chance of becoming the next Mayor as Richard Simmons staring in Terminator 4

holmes' chances Written by oswald on 2006-10-15 12:31:26 yeah, i would have thought the same thing till Fiacco started shooting himself in the foot every time he opened his mouth, sending out campaign fundraising faxes from the city acquisition fax machine, using city hall staff and resources for campaign events, etc., etc. Now it's starting to look like the Mayor formerly known as unbeatable may yet snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.    At the very least, if his failure to show up at the last two public debates is part of a deliberate strategy of not engaging with the competition, then I think that amounts to a disdain for the democratic process that Regina citizens should rightly get indignant about. Fiacco has a six-year record of leading this city; shouldn't he be willing and eager to defend that record publicly? If not, why should he expect people to give him their support for another three years?

rude and obnoxious Written by Guest on 2006-10-15 13:10:21 I won't be voting for a mayoral candidate that publically insults people of German heritage, calls other orders of government "stupid" and uses phrases like "toilet trained" with respect to a current city official.    Very disrespectful    No way.Loose mouth and really scary. Not a mayor for my city.

Written by Guest on 2006-10-15 13:24:08 When did Pat Fiacco say that stuff ?  I know he always insults other levels of government.  But Germans.

Written by Guest on 2006-10-18 09:24:48 Funny how everybody condemns Fiacco for not showing up at one debate or another - no one said a single word about the two other candidates not showing up at the university debate. Seems more and more that this site is so one sided in its hatred of Fiacco, that it really doesnt give a damn about anyone else even trying to form a government other than their candidate - as long as it is Jim that wins, the city will prosper and we will sing Kumbaya all day. Get your heads out of the sand - provincially the tide is turning - the days of the NDP are fast coming to an end (see: federal parties e.g) and the average voter is tired of union this and left wing that. Seems that your boy isnt without his own skeletons - can you say wife and library? - dont even try to start to defend the fact that there is a hidden agenda there. Its a week today boys and girls, and we will see if there are more in the left wing than this site and a bunch of non tax paying students. Good luck to all candidates - but get real - this city will never be governed by an anti business candidate. CCFR? - hmm - can anyone else see C.C.F.?

Written by Guest on 2006-10-18 11:25:19 On the evening in question, Fiacco was at a charity event supporting the rasising of funds for our local women's shelters. With his help, they rasied over $8000 for the shelters. Seems like a good use of time to me. Too bad others in the comunity don't feel so. I will always give my vote to the candidate that beast represents the BEST of our city...I Love Regina and I want my kids to love it enough to stay here too.

Written by Guest on 2006-10-19 15:12:52 fiacco cares about development companies making money and getting payed for a ribbon cutting job period. The city and your children's future are of no concern to him.

Written by Guest on 2006-10-19 16:04:44 Strange comments about Fiaccos visions for the city and his concerns. While i may not agree with everything that he does or stands for, I cant remember when we have had a person in his position more passionate about our city than he. Sure, there is a lot of photo ops, but there have been so many things done and pride in our city has risen steadily since he took office - you don't think the "I love Regina" campaign hasnt worked to increase the awareness of Regina to other cities and towns in the country?Name me another mayor who is approachable with such ease - phone him, or chat with him in the local grocery store - we need more of him in our public offices. Coming from a humble background as the son of an immigrant worker who has lived here and worked here all of his life, I find it refreshing to see that in the person who holds his office. The city and our childrens future are of no concern to him? - where did that come from? - they are a young family themselves with children of their own and make their home here - what did I miss? And your comment about getting payed for ribbon cutting - there probably arent a lot of others in this city that put in as many hours as he does in the course of his job - up early for breakfasts, fund raisers, meeting with charitable groups etc etc etc and then always working after hours - not bad for a guy who doesnt give two sh*ts about this city eh?. Sorry - this came off as a "Fiacco is the greasest" rant - but its time that this city has someone who has been as passionate about his position. Memories of Doug the slug, Harry (who?) Walker, Henry (I built city hall) Baker are all too fresh and very forgettable. About developers making money - this a private enterprise being good for everyone situation - dont forget that we live in a place where the Provincial govt resides - doesnt pay land taxes, is funded solely off of the taxpayers backs and who does not bring anything to the table in terms of value added income of their own. Take out all the pensioners, non tax payers(not pointing fingers), govt employees who are paid thru tax dollars, there isnt a lot of us left here that carry the majority burden on our shoulders. Thank god for the private businessman and woman, the store owners, contractors and developers who have made this province into what it is , against all efforts of govt. - sure it would be nice to get a fat pension, drive a govt owned telephone van with their gas in the tank, every 2nd or 3rd Friday off - but get real - if any private company was run like that, it would flounder and turn sour in a very short time. Long live free enterprise!

Written by Guest on 2006-10-19 16:25:14 Bravo, well stated, I also think Fiacco should be appreciated rather than cut to pieces. And it is nice to hear some people still appreciate the small buisness owners

Insults and name-calling don't help Fia Written by Guest on 2006-10-20 10:20:35 I am a public servant. I work extremely hard in difficult conditions. If you want me to support Fiacco for mayor, stop insulting and attacking me and all the people who clear your streets and tote your garbage. Your arrogance is disgusting.

Insults - its not about you Written by Guest on 2006-10-20 11:47:37 If this was in response to the comments above about not slamming Fiacco - what did i say that was insulting and demeaning to civic workers for the jobs that they do in exchange for their paychecks? What was stated was the way in which government coffers are filled - through tax payment of those renumerated by private sector employment - your earnings are paid from the tax dollars that are paid into the general fund of civic taxation and facility/service charges - not insulting - just stating the way in which you are paid.  I was not asking anyone to support one candidate over another - just answering a previous poster about the track record of the current incumbent and letting clear vision chart the course of their votes.  Thanks to all those who work hard for a living and dont call me arrogant, especially if you want me to come and clean out your sewer of all sorts of disgusting objects. Just because I am employed privately doesnt make my work any easier than yours - no arrogance here at all.

Right wing-nuts Written by Guest on 2006-10-23 16:07:22 I find it weird that right wingers spend so much time and effort monitoring and commenting on this website. It's not just that their comments are so nasty in tone, but they go on and on and on. They are invariably the most long-winded comments on this site, so long that I don't have time to read them. How do they find time to write them? Don't these folks have jobs? Just wondering. Gotta go.

right wing nuts Written by Guest on 2006-10-23 16:35:38 Yawn! - pass the white bread and milk please - getting a bad case of the blands here. Maybe the "right" finds the lack of stimulating responses to be boring too - and yes - we have jobs, private sector jobs - long live the free right!   LMFAO

right wing nuts Written by Guest on 2006-10-24 10:18:15 Thats funny, any opposition to radical lefts are now labeled right wing nuts. Rather than voting in the CCFR on wednesday why don't we turn the city over to the RWDSU they seem to be doing a bag up job for their supporters. Oh sorry there goes my nasty right wing thinking again.

Written by Guest on 2006-10-24 11:13:42 Cant we all just get along? -   Good idea - maybe the big blue bus can carry all the 14% of decided voters to the polls on wednesday - no wait - it needs to provide support for the walkers and their financial freedom advisors - day #??? and counting - and here I sit with groceries in the cupboard - from - gasp! those Sobeys bastards - who are the nuts now?

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