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Mayoral hopefuls offer their take on property tax continued from p.1 -- I deliver," Burton said while labelling some others as "developer-friendly candidates" who could derail council's future plans. "You elected me to control growth. You got a new Official Plan, and zoning, for controlled slower growth and protection of our established neighbourhoods," Burton said. "Growth was 50 per cent higher before me." Sitting to the left of Burton, real estate professional Gordon Brennan said climate change was one of the top issues of this campaign. "I'm kind of worried. Have we been spared it (climate change) so far? We had the one ice storm that we're still cleaning up after and went over budget for," Brennan said, adding the Town needs to "retrofit and fix our existing infrastructure." Meanwhile, the other two candidates, Mary Kennedy and part-time school bus driver Greg Warchol, seemed content with the status quo on many topics, both raising personal areas of concerns where the Town could make some improvements. "My main interest in entering this campaign stems from my continued concern over the fluoridation of drinking water in Oakville and all of Halton," Warchol said. "I have never run for office before, I just care about people." Kennedy provided several anecdotes during the debate to the crowd's amusement and said stronger bonds amongst citizens and businesses could better the community. An all-candidates meet-and-greet before the debate allowed residents to meet and discuss issues with those running to represent them after Monday, Oct. 27. 3 | Friday, October 3, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Oakville mayoral candidates, pictured from left, are: Mary Kennedy, John McLaughlin, Greg Warchol, Rob Burton and Gordon Brennan at the Oakville Chamber of Commerce all-candidates' meet-and-greet and mayoral debate Wednesday. | photo by Inger MacKenzie - special to the Beaver The crowds then filtered over to the mayoral debate where it was standing-room-only with vetted questions coming from the floor. Affordable housing and the possibility of Oakville adopting a Municipal Land Transfer Tax (MLTT) was the first issued posed to the candidates. Burton said Halton Region had added close to 900 units of affordable housing and was poised to match that number if he is re-elected for a third consecutive term. Burton was also careful not to dismiss the possibility of additional revenue for the Town through the MLTT. "We have to evaluate any new tax tools that the Province may give us, if they give them to us. It's by no means clear to me that they will," Burton said. "We cannot continue to use the property tax. The property tax is over-worked, in my opinion, and we've got to find new ways." Both McLaughlin and Brennan said they would not adopt the new tax, which has caused unrest among mayoral candidates in Toronto where it brings in more than $300 million annually in revenue. "(Burton) said that property taxes is overworked, guess who over worked it? You did, nobody else did that," McLaughlin said. "You've made Oakville unlivable and unaffordable, that's your responsibility." see Land on p.13 inside today's Editorial Sports Beaver www.insideHALTON.com Sore Feet, Sports Injury, Painful Ingrown Toenails? Plantar Warts? We can help! Exceptional footcare for all ages. · Routine footcare · Corns & calluses · Plantar warts · Heel/arch/foot pain · Diabetic footcare and education · Thick or ingrown nails · Nail surgery · Sports related foot problems & injuries · Custom made orthotics · Sigvaris® compression stockings · Evenings and saturday appointments available · New patients welcome! J. Richard Werkman chiropodist 6 22 Artscene Classified 19 26 Holland Park Garden Home Hardware Rabba Real Estate Halton Vacuum Depot Current Power Machinery New Homes The W Autospa Shoe Medic *All flyers not necessarily delivered to all homes For home delivery & customer service call 905-631-6095, 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington New subscriptions call 905-631-6095 or subscribe online @ www.oakvillebeaver.com Now offering Laser treatment for toenail fungus. located on the north/west corner of maple grove dr. and cornwall rd. 1495 Cornwall Rd., Suite 33, Oakville T: 905-845-4817 www.werkman.ca Don't Compromise on Driver Training upComing Courses october 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30 november 4, 6 Tuesdays & Thursdays 4 Weeks, 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm november 1, 2, 8, 9 november 22, 23, 29, 30 2 Weekends 2 Weekends 9:30 am to 3:30 pm 9:30 am to 3:30 pm Located in Downtown Oakville for over 25 years! www.drivewiseoakville.com 905-845-7200