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On the issue of lot splitting, the candidates almost all agree there should be more community input. But Kendrick, who runs a construction company, strongly favours giving homeowners the right to subdivide and make a profit: “Some of these houses are so old and ugly they need to be torn down.”

On city council’s goal of spreading social housing throughout the city, most of the candidates say it should only be built if it’s close to key services.

“Are they close to groceries?” asks Newton, who was senior regional market manager for Telus. “Are they close to public transit routes? “

Jimmy is the strongest advocate for social housing. She points to several surplus school sites in the area and ongoing discussions about developing them, though only in consultation with the local community.

“It does mean change for the neighbourhood,” she says.

As for bike lanes, the consensus is to go slow until the new ones in the city core are studied. As Bowen, a fundraiser for the Stollery Children’s Foundation, says: “I want to see the utilization of those lanes before we move forward in the city.”

Voters in the ward will have no easy decision at the polls. There are strong candidates here from all sides of the political spectrum.

My own take? The two best bets are Newton and Hamilton.

Hamilton has the support of both Oshry and former mayor Stephen Mandel, for whom she worked in communications at the province. Both Newton and Hamilton have experience in private business, which is always a huge asset on council, and both seem bent on making practical decisions.

With the city’s grand plans for transportation going somewhat off kilter right now, flexibility and common sense will be much-needed.

dstaples@postmedia.com

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