Victoria Times Colonist, 23 October 2005
Ben challenged incumbent Mayor Alan Lowe to a televised debate, to provide voters with the opportunity to assess differences of policy. Lowe refused the challenge
Mayor Alan Lowe has dismissed as a gimmick a challenge to a televised debate from mayoral candidate Ben Isitt, who has been endorsed by the NDP-affiliated Victoria Civic Electors, called for the debate last week.
“If someone was willing to put air time on it I would think about it,” Lowe said Friday. “Right now, no TV station has offered to do it.”
Lowe added that it is only fair that all seven candidates for mayor in the Nov. 19 municipal election be involved in such a debate. Isitt maintains the race for Victoria mayor is a two-way affair between himself and Lowe.
Rob Germain, news director of CH, said Isitt has not contacted the station about a televised debate.
Also, the station has to consider all the other municipal elections, he said.
“We’ve got 13 municipalities just in [Greater] Victoria. To focus on one mayoralty race above all others might be unfair,” Germain said.
