Every year, the Salmon River Enhancement Society hosts an all-candidates meeting for hopefuls running in the Township election.

Given the large number of candidates, organizers decided not to hold a forum for mayoral and councillor candidates, but have arranged one for the three contestants vying for the mayor's seat. They are the incumbent, Rick Green, and challengers Jack Froese and current councillor Mel Kositsky.

The Yorkson Community Association and the Fort 91原创 Community Association have teamed with the SRES to host a meeting on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. at Brookswood Secondary School, 20902 37A Ave.

SRES director Doug McFee said that after deciding not to hold an environmental all-candidates meeting because of the high number of candidates, "we were really pleased to see the Yorkson and Fort 91原创 community groups spearhead a meeting for the mayoralty candidates."

Hank Der, president of the YCA added that "with so much effort being wasted solely on personal attacks, and little to no focus on detailed vision and ideas by candidates, it is time for real substance to be judged."

The candidates will be given three questions to answer in writing before the meeting. These questions focus on issues of particular interest to the sponsoring groups. These include better and earlier involvement of citizens in Township planning.

One question will focus on maintaining the Salmon River Uplands as a non-urban area, and the third will deal with improving the way development is proceeding in 91原创.

Frank Cox, who chairs the FLCA , said that community involvement and problems with development should be focal issues for this campaign.

Candidates will be given five minutes to state their election platform. In particular, McFee said, they will be asked to articulate their vision for better involvement of the community and for improvements to the way development is proceeding in 91原创.

The sponsoring societies will then ask questions of the candidates before the meeting is opened up to questions from the floor on any topic.

The candidates' written responses will be photocopied and available to the audience at the meeting, and will also be posted on the SRES website WWW.salmonriver.org and the FLCA website www.fortlangleycommunity.org.