Greater Sudbury ward election debates get started tonight

The first in a series of debates between Sudbury city council candidates happens Monday night.

The Greater Sudbury Taxpayers Association ihas organized debates for council candidates in all 12 wards, and the eight men running to be councillor for Ward 1 will face off at the Caruso club starting at 7 p.m.   

GSTA president Michael Rocha said he hopes the debates will help voters make more informed choices, and "make decisions based on what the candidates are saying, as opposed to just seeing the most number of signs or just guessing or going with familiar names." 

The group has been very critical of the city and city council for the past four years.

GSTA past-president Dan Melanson, who is now running for mayor, has said in the past that he hopes no incumbent city councillors are re-elected. But new taxpayers association president Michael Rocha says these events will not favour any one perspective over another.

"What's been said in the past has been said. Our position going forward is basically to take a neutral stance. We've come out publicly and said we're not endorsing any candidates."

For more information about the muncipal election in Greater Sudbury, and across the northeast, head over to cbcnews.ca/sudburyvotes.