Mayoral hopefuls make their pitch

A record 20candidates are running to be mayor of the City of Ottawa in this year's municipal election.

CBC host Kathleen Petty spoke with three of them on Ottawa Morning: Current mayorLarry O'Brien, former mayorJim Watsonand current Capital Ward councillorClive Doucet.

And beginning Tuesday, Oct. 5, Ottawa Morning is hosting weekly electiondebates with the same threecandidates, with the first debate looking at taxation.

Fifteen of the 20 people running for mayor also took the time to tell the CBC's Maggie Padlewska why voters should consider them on Oct. 25. Click on the links beside the photos to hear their platforms, in their own words.

Five candidates for mayor were approached to participate but were unavailable for interviews.

They include:

• Vincent Libweshya, a 25-year-old entrepreneur who was born and raised in Nairobi and says he is a distant cousin of U.S. President Barack Obama.
• Sean Ryan, one of the first candidates to register. His website ishere.
• Samuel Wright, who says he works and lives in the ByWard market and said Ottawa needs someone in the big chair looking out for the little guy.

No information was available on Robert Larter and Julio Pita.