Mayoral debate draws huge crowd

Around 400 people crammed into the Prince George Library last night for the first mayoral debate of the election season.

Lyn Hall came away feeling good with his performance and feeling even better with the turn out.

“That’s what we can ask for, it’s what we want, we want people to come out and express their opinions and ask their questions, so I feel really good about what went on tonight and others will decide how well I did, but I feel pretty good about it,” Hall says.

Don Zurowski also feels good with how the debate went, happy with a lack of bickering on either side.

“I thought we conducted ourselves very ‘Canadian’,” Zurowski says. “We were respectful of each other and our positions. So, from that perspective it was all good. We live in the same community, we have families here, it was a great evening, it was well done.”

Both candidates went back several times during the debate to their main platforms; Hall spoke frequently on improving communication with various city groups, while Zurowski promoted his mission to increase the city’s population to 100,000.

Both candidates answered questions from the audience, ranging from revitalizing the downtown core, pledging to bring business back and seeing more residents downtown, but also increasing housing for seniors and strengthening the city’s relationship with the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation.

Hall says the main difference between himself and his opponent is how he’s led the community during his current term on council.

“I have the experience to create that leadership and I have some ideas around reconnecting to our stakeholders and our partner groups in the community,” Hall says. “Restructuring council so we deal better at the table with youth groups, seniors groups and various professions.”

While Zurowski, a former councillor, says his style of leadership is what sets him apart from Hall.

“I don’t believe people lead because you’re talking about a style in a meeting, I think they get behind visions and a leader that knows where they’re going,” he says. “The people I work with generally enjoy working with me, I’m demanding, but I’m respectful of their thinking and position.”

The next mayoral and council debates are scheduled for November 6th at UNBC and 12th at the library, with the latter having a “speed dating” theme with potential councillors.