With election day looming, ongoing talk of a possible campaign slate came to a head when candidates Terrill Patterson and Greg Gardner argued over the rumours during the final mayoral debate, presented by The Chief, at the Sea To Sky Hotel Monday (Nov. 10). "'No slate, no slate!' Who is kidding who here?" said Patterson. "I have not come across anyone that has anything to do with politics that hasn't acknowledged he [Gardner] is running on a slate. And if you vote for him, that's fine, just don't make him overlord."Patterson said Gardner is siding with council candidates who have similar views, such as Doug Race and Rob Kirkham, to gain a majority on council. "You had a meeting with these fellows to discuss a co-operative arrangement for running council," said Patterson.Patterson brought out a tile made out of slate and asked his opponent to name initials that were drawn onto the tile indicating who was on the slate. He then pointed out that councillor and candidate Corinne Lonsdale was missing."You left off one, that was a mistake," said Patterson.In an interview with The Chief, Patterson said Lonsdale called him to say Mike Jenson, Race and Kirkham had a meeting and didn't invite her leading to suspicions they were running a slate.In a follow-up interview, Lonsdale denied Patterson's assertions."I don't think there would be any slate. Greg wouldn't be that stupid, he just wouldn't do it," said Lonsdale.She said Patterson called her, and the only meeting she could think of where all four men were together was Gardner's campaign launch party. "But that is not a private meeting and everyone is privy to that knowledge so everybody who attended would know that," said Lonsdale.During the debate, Gardner said he feels very strongly there is no need for a party system and people should elect candidates who think for themselves and not in a slate. Gardner added that the community is small and people need to - and often do - work together. But this doesn't constitute a slate."I was also in a room two days ago with you Mr. Patterson when we actually did talk about election issues and strategies so maybe we're a slate as well, and Lauren in my campaign team is helping Mr. Erickson as well a little bit so I guess that's a slate, I gave David Clarkson a campaign contribution so I guess I have a slate with him," said Gardner.Patterson is not alone in his assertions. Council candidate Alan Forsythe stated in his blog he believes there is a slate of "old guard" candidates, and that is why he is running. "When I talk with people some ask why the Old Guard slate hasn't been identified in the media. Well you'll have to ask these media outlets why they're ignoring it, but clearly there is a slate"Forsythe did not respond to requests for an interview.Mayoral candidate John Erickson also had his moment to shine when he took the opportunity to read out his thesis on the red tape he experienced with local and provincial government when addressing his concern over the Oceanfront holdings and the toxic mercury levels it contains. "Did you people not question it?" he asked Erickson the audience. Erickson said he went through council, ombudsmen and ministers to get a judicial inquiry into the Nexen affair, all to no avail. Erickson said although he has been "stonewalled" by the government, he hasn't given up fighting for an inquiry into the Oceanfront land.Council candidates Larry McLennan, Patricia Heintzman, Clarkson, Jenson, Lalli and Lonsdale attended the debate.Election results will be available in print and online at squamishchief.com on the evening of Saturday (Nov. 15).
