Oakville Mayoral Debate Set for October 18

All five people running for mayor of Oakville have been invited to one stage on Sunday, October 18, and residents can sit in. The Oakville and District Labour Council, Unifor Local 707 and Advancement of Women Halton are hosting the debate from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Unifor 707 Union Hall, 475 North Service Road East.

This is the only debate of the campaign devoted to the mayor's race. The labour council says the event came out of its disappointment at the lack of dedicated mayoral debates in this election. Organizers say the evening will stay on issues important to Oakville residents, and that candidates will get room to explain their positions, answer questions and take part in public discussion.

The five invited candidates:

• Rob Burton, the incumbent mayor
• Arvind Choudhary
• Julia Hanna
• Jeff Knoll, town and regional councillor
• Sean O'Meara, town and regional councillor

Attendance had not been confirmed by each candidate when the debate was announced. All five did turn up to the Ward 3 all candidates meeting last week, and all five are expected at the Ward 1 debate the day before this one, on Saturday, October 17 at Eastview Public School.

"We believe Oakville residents deserve an opportunity to hear directly from the people asking for their vote to lead our town," said Teri Shaw, co-chair of Advancement of Women Halton. Organizers know October 18 lands late, after advance voting has already started, and apologized that an earlier date could not be arranged. The date still leaves a full week between the debate and election day.