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“He’s been on council for 10 years and voted against nine police budgets,” Atchison said. “I haven’t seen him over-enthusiastic about putting more women and men on the streets to help out.”

At a news conference earlier this week, Clark said he constantly challenges the notion that more police mean a safer city. He said with each new officer costing about $110,000 a year, it’s important to see that the money is invested properly. He said the city has to think long and hard about whether that money should be invested in police officers or social programs that could keep kids and others out of criminal lifestyles.

Even in years when the police force’s $80 million budget was hotly contested, Atchison supported hiring new officers. Clark, on the other hand, often led the charge to rethink the police budget and hire fewer officers. He was instrumental earlier this year in getting a wholesale audit of the police force underway. The results of that audit should be out later this fall.

Atchison also addressed issues of racism and discrimination at his Thursday news conference, saying he was upset with some of the racist comments that surfaced on social media after the Colten Boushie shooting last month.

“Disappointed would be the best way to put it. I continue to say all the time, we belong to one race and that’s the human race, ” Atchison said.

When asked about discrimination against LGBTQ people in Saskatoon and his record of missing the Pride Parade, Atchison noted he attended the Pride flag raising this year, but did not commit to attending the parade next summer if he is re-elected.

“I always tell them that if we are available we will be there,” he said.

cthamilton@postmedia.com