Sanders calls Steeves' platform misguided and bizarre

Winnipeg mayoral candidate David Sanders is taking aim at opponent Gord Steeves.

• Trifecta of vows from Winnipeg mayoral candidates

Sanders described Steeves’ platform as “misguided,” “short-sighted” and “bizarre” at a Thursday morning press conference.

"Yesterday Gord surfaced and promised greater openness and transparency at city hall," said Sanders. "I suggest Gord Steeves' proposals are misguided and short sighted."

“There is no pot of gold at the end of this one-time rainbow.”

Steeves responded to Sanders Thursday afternoon.

"If he's saying my promises are misguided and short-sighted I would say that any time there is fiscal responsibility ... people always throw that back at you," said Steeves.

Steeves’ plan to sell off city assets such as golf courses is ill-conceived, said Sanders, adding that they won't generate the cash Steeves said could be used to fix infrastructure.

"I believe that these courses would certainly not sell for anywhere near the values estimate by Gord Steeves advisers," said Sanders.

But Steeves said his team crunched the numbers.

"We costed everything out," said Steeves. "There was a little bit of dispute on the numbers, but nobody said it wouldn't fetch those numbers ... so if he has difficulty with that, show us your numbers."

Steeves unfazed by Sanders

Steeves said he isn't fazed by Sanders' criticism.

"It's just about finding efficiency," said Steeves. "I did it for 11 years in a row and every year I had very many Mr. Sanders following me around, saying I couldn't do it ... and I did it for 11 years in a row."

Sanders also scolded Steeves for skipping six community mayoral forums in the past few weeks.

"Obviously I thought each of them was important enough for myself to attend," said Sanders.

Steeves explained his absence, saying that in each case other campaign events took precedence.

"We have scheduling all over the place and we have to make decisions," said Steeves. "I think going to 10 mayoral forums over the course of campaign more than fair."

But the two traded more than just barbs.

"He has a nice smile, a friendly guy and a fellow lawyer and I respect that," said Sanders of Steeves.

"He is a thoughtful man and very intelligent," said Steeves talking about Sanders. "He is drastically left, and I am not."