Kelowna mayoral candidate Bobby Kennedy.

(CONTRIBUTED / iNFOnews.ca)

KELOWNA - Bobby Kennedy may think he’s in the mix as next mayor of Kelowna but the 'applause-o-metre' is telling a different story.

“Many in the media say this is very much a two-horse race,” Kennedy said in his closing comments at a mayoralty forum at UBC Okanagan today, Oct. 15. “That’s me and Tom (Dyas) and Tom and I. Vote Bobby Kennedy.”

That, along with his suggestions for things like a cannabis tax, a 'sea bus' across Okanagan Lake from Peachland to the Mission and stacking shipping containers double high in the field across from Orchard Park Mall to treat drug addicts did get some support from the audience. But that applause was on the same level as for Dyas, far quieter than the applause for Mayor Colin Basran.

Throughout this campaign, Dyas has been portrayed as the top contender to unseat Basran. Not only has Kennedy not gained much ground, Basran seems to be far ahead.

The fourth candidate, Bob Schewe, mostly received a smattering of polite applause.

Unfortunately for election watchers, this was the first forum where there was some possibility of an actual debate breaking out as candidates had “challenge flags” they could raise, but those debates never materialized.

Dyas did raise a challenge on a question about how the city would help migrant farm workers. Basran was the last to answer that question and accused the others of not listening to, or answering the question.

“We heard the question very well but answered it in a polite fashion,” Dyas countered with his challenge. He went on to say he met with farmers last Friday who felt shut out by City Hall – his oft spoken complaint.

Dyas continued his attack on Basran by suggesting he’s not open to community input and consultation.

Basran, for his part, continued to talk about all the things the city has accomplished in the last four years – including an agricultural plan that deals with the migrant worker issue.

As for Schewe, far too many of his responses were that the issue is complicated and he needed to gather more information.

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