By BILL SAWCHUK
Tribune Staff Writer
THOROLD - With the election a little more than a week away, the candidates in the Welland-Thorold riding appear to be starting to feel the heat - and the exchanges are becoming more personal.
Most of the hour-long discussion during Tuesday's radio debate on CHSC centred around the all-too-familiar party platforms, but on a number of occasions, the discussion threatened to degenerate into a verbal free-for-all.
First, New Democrat Peter Kormos questioned the integrity of conservative Greg Reid.
Reid told the radio audience Kormos has compared the call-centre industry (which the City of Welland is actively recuiting) to sweat shops. Kormos hotly denied it.
"You're resorting to sleazy politics," Kormos said.
Then Liberal Bob Muir, a high school principal, resorted to his best teacher's voice and fended off an interruption by Reid.
"Cool it, Greg, you've had your chance," Muir said.
Kormos went after Liberal Bob Muir's record as a city councillor in Welland.
"Where were you on Wacky Wednesdays, Bob?" Kormos asked when the discussion turned to sticking up for working people. "You were laying off working people."
Wacky Wednesdays were Welland council's way of dealing with the social contract. Muir replied the decision was made to save jobs. <>Freedom Party candidate Barry Fitzgerald even got into it with Kormos on agricultural issues, causing Kormos to reply, "Barry, I've visited a few farms and I have stepped in some of the stuff you are spreading around here ... That's why I wear boots."
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last updated on April 30, 2002
