Just minutes into a council meeting Tuesday night, Mayor Frank Campion called a recess as mayoral candidate David Clow interrupted the proceedings.

Clow was trying to get Campion to commit to a live debate with him in late September on YourTV (Cogeco) and moved to the centre of council chambers to address him.

"I began by stating that I was very sorry for having to interrupt the meeting but that it was an urgent and time-sensitive matter … The mayor repeatedly attempted to speak over me with a 'No, you may not.'," said Clow in an email interview Wednesday.

During his approach to council and with the mayor answering back, it was hard for those in council chambers and the media to clearly hear what was said.

As Campion called for the recess, Clow pressed on and said YourTV went to a lot of trouble to set up the debate.

"Sir, will you be attending the live debate? There's a lot of questions that need to be answered, you can't just keep dodging them. It's very important you that you do this debate, sir," said Clow, during what could be heard as councillors and staff stood up to leave.

Clow said the mayor told him he was out of order as he left the room.

"I responded that he was out of order. I then said that his behaviour around this campaign is an affront to democracy."

Clow, who ran federally for the Green Party in 2015, said he felt that it was necessary for him to interrupt the meeting for many reasons.

"For the past weeks, I have been maintaining ongoing contact with the production supervisor for YourTV, Daniel Day. He has been unable to get Mayor Campion to agree to attend the live YourTV mayoral debate. During that period, I have been weighing the options available to me as to how I can meet the obligations and responsibility incumbent upon me as a mayoral candidate," he said, adding he had questions about the mayor's role in ongoing issues at Niagara Region and Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority.

Campion said he learned of the YourTV debate less than a week ago.

"It looks like they sent me an email a while ago, but I don't have it. I responded that I have meetings in Toronto in September from the 19th to 21st," said Campion Wednesday, adding he wasn't trying to duck a debate with Clow.

The mayor said several meetings have been set up on those days with various business people and representatives from the province.

"It's a normal course for us," he said of those meetings. "It's hard to get these (meetings) and it's important for us to be there. I'm not going to not go."

Campion said the people of Welland pay his salary and expect him to provide exceptional service.

"What's more important, me doing my job or debating? We're trying to get the province onside with us with issues like the hospital … there are things we need to drill down on."

Campion said he has been in contact with YourTV and informed them of the conflict on the date — September 20 — of the proposed debate and his schedule in Toronto.

He said if not busy with city work, he would debate Clow if YourTV could find a different date.

"But after last night's display … he's someone that's capable of anything," Campion said of Clow, who once secretly audiotaped him in a discussion about the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority and posted it to YouTube.

Campion called Clow's display juvenile and said it showed a complete disregard for the institution, the process and the people in council chambers.

Asked about Clow's interruption, mayoral candidate Steven Soos said he had comment.

"I will not involve myself in Mr. Campion's and Mr. Clow's rivalry, when the topic should be about how we can help the people of Welland. That's what the conversation should be about," Soos said in an email.

He said he's confirmed his attendance for the YourTV debate on the 20th.

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"As always, I look forward to standing up for the ratepayers of Welland," Soos said.

Nathaniel.Johnson@niagaradailies.com