COVID is the city issue for these voters. But what will that mean for the vote?

With COVID cases surging, Calgary's pandemic response is a key issue on the minds of many potential voters in the runup to the Oct. 18 municipal election.

It's causing sparks at the mayoral debates and when CBC Calgary asked residents in northwest Calgary what they want local candidates to be talking about, it was difficult to find anyone wanting to discuss anything else.

But what will it mean on election day? That's still unclear. Read what we heard from voters and several high-profile mayoral candidates below.

One political scientist said he'll be watching for candidates to try to own this issue, or for the anxiety to shape what leadership characteristics voters seek out.

Potential voters speak out

Stopping outside the library in Arbour Lake, on the streets in Citadel and at a food truck festival in Ranchlands recently, many residents wanted to hear solutions to stop the rapid spread, support for businesses dealing with the vaccine exemptions and a plan to get back out of this.

Of the nine people who shared what they want the candidates to be talking about, seven pointed to Calgary's COVID-19 response.

"Restrict people; have masks on. I know the economy is really important right now, but so is the health of the people and the health-care workers," said Kam Leung outside her house in Citadel. 

She was getting in the car to take her four-year-old son for his fifth COVID-19 test when CBC Calgary stopped by.

Walking his dog down the street, Mike Blake called COVID response a "defining topic" for him.

Blake, who works in law enforcement, says it's important to control the spread and vocally support health-care workers as well. 

"That's important at this time right now — voicing their support. There's been a lack of support for health-care workers at the provincial and municipal level," he said. "It affects a lot of people that I know."

"It's been a year and a half of the COVID stuff," added Sarah Steuber, stopping in at the local library with her two preschool daughters.

As for picking a mayor: "I think Calgary needs a shake-up," she said. "It's been a long time of the same mentality. I think we're looking for change. Change in concepts, hopefully some more focus."

At the Ranchlands food truck event, university student Prithvi Roy fumed at how difficult it has been for students to make plans during the pandemic. He's looking for leadership on that, he said.

"Everyone should come together and see what the main problem is and try to solve it. That's the obvious answer. Especially for students, it's hard to plan ahead."

Mayoral candidates stake their turf

On Monday, the topic also led to a passionate exchange between several candidates in the mayoral race. 

As councillor for Ward 11, candidate Jeromy Farkas was the only council member to vote against making the vaccine exemption program mandatory rather than optional for affected city businesses. He also voted in favour of lifting the mask bylaw in July. 

At the VibrantYYC debate, he said his no vote was about consistency.

"I fully agree that the provincial government mishandled this COVID situation," he said. "But I know that hearing from businesses, residents, performers, sports organizations that the city bringing in its own contradictory orders muddies the waters.… I'm strongly in support of vaccination, I strongly encourage others to do so."

Candidate Jyoti Gondek, who tried unsuccessfully to get Calgary to keep the mask bylaw as Ward 3 councillor, was having none of that.

"You made decisions that compromised the public health of Calgarians," she told Farkas. "You refused to join us in taking action to protect our public health (in July). You chose to side with a provincial government that abdicated its responsibility. You cannot change the history that you supported the province in its inaction." 

Candidate Jeff Davison then jumped in to, as he said, "pile on."

"My daughter had her surgery pushed off because of the rhetoric by people like this. Yes, you can support vaccinations but this is no longer about rights. This is a conversation about doing the responsible thing."

Davison supported the recent restrictions as Ward 6 councillor. He supported lifting the mask bylaw in July.

WATCH | Catch the full debate between the five mayoral candidates who ranked highest in recent polls at the VibrantYYC debate at Arts Commons on Monday, below:

The five mayoral candidates who ranked highest in recent polls were invited to the VibrantYYC debate at Arts Commons. Brad Field and Jan Damery were also invited and pointed to dysfunction on council as part of the problem. Neither were previously on council. There are 22 others also in the race.

What the pundit says

Over at the University of Calgary, political scientist Jack Lucas has been watching this issue build during the campaign. In July, a Forum Research poll he and CBC Calgary commissioned found the mask bylaw debate was of critical importance to Calgarians.

Fifty-eight per cent of the 2,200 people surveyed gave it a seven out of 10 or higher on a scale of importance, far out-ranking more typical municipal issues such as the Green Line, arena deal and council's approach to infill development.

Back in northwest Calgary, several residents said they've been searching candidates' websites to understand their positions on COVID-19. But it's not always easy to see how candidates at the mayoral or ward level differ on a subject like this.

Lucas says even if competing candidates argue for the same approach on COVID, the anxiety and urgency of the issue can shape the race. For example, it can change what personality traits voters are drawn to.

"On COVID, candidates can distinguish themselves by their leadership qualities, their competence and compassion," said Lucas. "But also by demonstrating that this is an area that they 'own,' perhaps by their background or experience, something they bring to the table that others don't."

"Even if you hear candidates say very much the same thing, it can still matter because people say, it's really important for me to choose someone who has the capacity to step in on Day 1 and get this done," he said.

"Now it's just gotten so serious," he added. "Even if you're not directly worried about COVID, you might be worried about someone you love having access to care. It's just on the minds of all of us."

What do you want the candidates to be talking about? Help shape CBC Calgary's election coverage by letting us know here.