Incumbent Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley and mayoral candidate Anne Marie Gillis speak to the Seaway Kiwanis Club. October 9, 2018. (Photo by Melanie Irwin)Incumbent Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley and mayoral candidate Anne Marie Gillis speak to the Seaway Kiwanis Club. October 9, 2018. (Photo by Melanie Irwin)
Sarnia

Mayoral candidates square off again over leadership

In the final weeks leading to Sarnia's municipal election, mayoral hopeful Anne Marie Gillis is targeting incumbent Mike Bradley's leadership style.

"Do you want chaos or opportunity?" Gillis asked members of the Seaway Kiwanis Club during their latest "meet the candidates" meeting.

"I see a real chance for growth in Sarnia, but we have to work together to get there," she said.

Gillis said she can work with staff, senior government and the public to advance the city.

"I don't want to take the city back," she said. "I don't want to spend the next four years complaining about the last four years, I want to take the city forward. To press the fast-forward button, not some reset button."

Gillis, who as a result of a workplace harassment investigation, has acted as an intermediary for all communications between the mayor and city staff since 2016, said the role of the mayor is not to be the "strongest person in the room."

"It's not one of isolationism. It's one that talks about collaboration. You are one among equals," she said.

But, Bradley disagreed.

"Please, do not vote for me if you don't want a strong leader," he said. "We are not first among equals. The municipal act says very clearly the mayor is the chief executive officer of the city, and to balance that there's a chief administrative officer. You can debate the merits of it and what the powers are, but the fact is, day in and day out, I am meeting with people who come to see the mayor."

Bradley called himself a watchdog for the city and said he's "no one's lap dog."

"You may not like my style on occasion. I don't like my style on occasion. But the reality is that's who and what I am. I've given my whole life to this community. I have no pension. I have nothing from this job, except the memories and privilege of serving you," he said.

Bradley said if re-elected, he plans to restore the balance between politicians and city staff.

"When I tried to speak about issues, whether it be the hospital demolition or naming rights for the sports complex, people have tried to silence me," he said. "I will admit in the last couple of years, yes, there was tension at city hall and I will admit some of the responsibility for that. But, all I was doing was asking those questions that needed to be asked. Mistakes were made on my part. Lessons were learned. But you need that balance. That accountability. You need to break down those barriers that exist, not just physically, but those barriers to the public."

Kip Cuthbert and Fred Ingham were invited to Tuesday's luncheon meeting but did not attend.

Voting in Sarnia's municipal election begins on Thursday, October 11 at 9 a.m. and ends on Monday, October 22 at 8 p.m.

This year votes will be cast by telephone, computer, cell phone, iPad, tablet or laptop.

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