Three of the twelve candidates running for mayor of London faced off again Friday morning. This event was hosted by Devon Peacock at Corus radio’s AM980 studio downtown. Jack Moulton from LFP was on the scene to cover it.
WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES?
Kirsten Krose: 42, owner of a public affairs firm Josh Morgan: 48, current mayor of London Susan Stevenson: 59, city councillor for Ward 4 Also in the race: John Feher, Lawrence-Zachary Howe, Barry Douglas Jacklin, Tariq Khan, Dan Lenart, Bronagh Joyce Morgan, Christine Rosehart, Jeff Yam and Mustafa Zeboon.
WHAT DID THE CANDIDATES SAY?
After multiple public and private debates featuring Morgan, Stevenson and Krose, Peacock chose not to include opening remarks this time. Instead, he asked each candidate what type of mayor they envisioned being.
Krose expressed her desire for city hall to be more open to feedback from residents and involve them more in shaping the city’s direction.
“Whether it’s stakeholders, the average citizen, the ratepayer, and also experts, I want to make sure we’re bringing all that in so that we are building a really good community and that we have a path to a really good future,” she said.
Morgan framed himself as someone ready to tackle challenges head-on. He emphasized making “realistic promises” while leading through collaboration both within the council and beyond.
“Especially given strong mayor powers that came this term, it’s really important to understand that you’ve got to respect the will and the voice of councillors around the table,” he said. “There’s not a lot of things you can do without eight votes on council.”
Stevenson characterized herself as a mayor who would “listen, act decisively, and be transparent and accountable to the public,” mentioning her experiences as an “opposition politician.”
“When you see things that aren’t right and you feel a need to highlight them to the public after trying to deal with it internally then that’s been the role that I’ve had to be in,” she said.
“While I’m campaigning it’s an opportunity to highlight issues brought up during this term of council ensuring voters are informed about their choices.”
WHAT WERE THE HIGHLIGHTS?
After facing off several times before now, these three candidates seemed more willing than ever to challenge one another’s points.
Regarding strong mayor powers, Morgan warned they can be “a dangerous tool if they’re in the wrong hands” should be used collaboratively instead of overriding council decisions. He criticized Stevenson for suggesting she would use those powers for appointing a new city manager.
“For anyone to say that they’re just going to be the arbiter of public will above and beyond that is not how you should use strong mayor power,” he stated.
Stevenson pushed back against Morgan’s usage of those powers by calling his actions “performative.”
“This is about leadership. It is about respecting duly elected councillors meaningfully; these strong mayor powers – there’s no reason for fear,” she asserted. “This is merely another tool available which won’t be misused when I’m mayor.”
Krose added: “If you don’t need it then don’t use it. Everything should rely on consensus and collaboration.”
On construction issues Morgan acknowledged traffic disruptions but insisted improvements are necessary due to aging infrastructure while utilizing temporary federal funding efficiently. He reiterated his support for extending construction hours until 11 p. m., something both opponents questioned him on.
“Where were these ideas about doing it faster ensuring timelines were met? Where was this foresight beforehand? Where were our elected officials regarding approving so many major roads under construction at once?” Stevenson remarked.
Krose challenged both her opponents saying: “I’m sitting here as someone who hasn’t served on council yet; they hold leadership positions already. Why discuss solutions now? Why didn’t these discussions happen four years ago or even twelve years ago?”
As for property taxes next term Stevenson continued advocating her campaign promise involving increases below one percent during her first two years followed by hikes at or below inflation rates thereafter.
“There are funds available; I’m dedicated toward uncovering them even though it’s challenging because Londoners deserve our commitment just like they’re expected at home,” she affirmed.
Krose indicated she’d approach tax promises cautiously starting at inflation rates while steering clear from what she termed as budget bombs stemming from structural deficits.
Morgan pulled out a chart breaking down city budgeting asserting meeting Stevenson’s pledge would necessitate around $70 million cuts over two years. p >” There ‘ s only so many places cut , there ‘ s no magic money here , and Londoners deserve clarity regarding potential cuts if achieving less than one percent isn ‘ t feasible since $70 million won ‘ t come solely via efficiencies service reviews , “he explained. p >LONDON’S 2026 CIVIC ELECTION p >Voters will go vote on Oct.26 electing their next city council with advance voting days set for Oct.3 ,8, and10 along with Oct.5-10 happening at city hall. p >There are81 candidates vying positions including London Mayor along14 ward councillor roles – check out what most have shared themselves right here. p >jmoulton@postmedia. com p >
