Mayor candidates dig in heels at Shelburne debate

There were no knock out blows, but there definitely were some jabs thrown during the Town of Shelburne Mayor’s Forum held on Thursday night.

The forum, organized by the Shelburne Chamber of Commerce, saw mayoral candidates P.G. Comeau and Alan Delaney square off at the Shelburne Community Centre in front of a little less than 100 people.

After the smiles and shaking hands were over Delaney got right to the point in his opening remarks.

“We do not have the right leadership,” he said, a point he would stress throughout the forum, organized by the Shelburne Chamber of Commerce. “We need to work together with our other municipal units, the province and others.”

Comeau focused his opening comments on his accomplishments and on several projects he wants to see brought to fruition over the next four years, including a tourist bureau on Highway 103 and a revitalization of the Cox building on Dock Street.

The format of the forum saw questions from the audience asked by moderator Doug Drane and both candidates deftly fielded many queries including several on Roseway Hospital, expanding town water and tourism.

On the question of amalgamation with other municipal units, Comeau offered a definitive no, noting that he felt the marriage would be an unfair one for the town. Delaney said the issue would have to be studied before any decisions were made.

It was on questions of cooperation with outside agencies that Delaney began to directly attack the incumbent mayor, describing efforts to bring business into the area as a long history of failure and disappointment.

Comeau put the blame for Shelburne’s economic woes firmly on the shoulders of past MLAs and MPs, but he did note hope on two fronts, including at the Shelburne Marine Terminal and with movie productions at the former CFS Shelburne site.

It was a loaded question on the issue of the town’s relationship with the municipality of Shelburne that saw the first hints of anger at the forum.

Delaney attacked the Mayor for impeding that relationship and for not taking part in the first joint New Year Levy between the town and municipality.

In his closing remarks, Comeau said the criticisms were off base and suggested that Delaney was really criticizing the town residents.

He wrapped up on a lighter note speaking about his love of the job and his desire to continue as Mayor.

“It has been a privilege and an honor,” he said.

Delaney used his final comments to hammer at the Comeau’s record and offered himself as an opportunity to make a change.

“We should be building bridges instead of barriers,” he said.

The mayor candidates forum was followed by a forum for town councillor candidates.

All the candidates showed up but they barely had time for introductions and closing statements before it was time to go home.

Almost all agreed that economic development was the number one issue for the town.