Tierney, Schurter talk ward issues, not OPP investigation

Coun. Tim Tierney's challenger in the Beacon Hill-Cyrville ward says he's sorry a policeinvestigation is overshadowing issues that matter to the ward'sresidents this election.

Michael Schurter filed a complaint against Tierney after a conversation that allegedly happened moments before nominations closed onJuly 27, and Tierney is now being investigated by the Ontario Provincial Police'santi-rackets branch.

Several sources had earlier confirmed toCBCNews the conversation involved Tierney tryingto convince Schurter not to run against him.

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The two men declined to wade into the issue during a debate recorded for Rogers Television on Friday afternoon, just hours before a pair of devastating tornadoes touched down in Ottawa-Gatineau.

Tierney was asked at the debate how he explains the investigation to residents while out campaigning.

He related his answer to CBCafterward, sayingresidents know who he is as a person. They also know his family, Tierney said, because they're at rinks and soccer fields in the ward all the time.

"I think people look at this and go, 'Hmmm. There's a lot more to this story.' And they certainly would be correct in that. But I'm not going to, at my lawyer's advice,add anything furtherto this story."

Testy exchanges

The two candidates took aimat oneother for other reasons during the ward debate which was intended tobethe first of 23 wards recorded by Rogersbut ended up being the last after Tierneyrescheduled.

Schurtersuggested Tierneyenjoys posing for photos at community events and openings more than tackling issues and reading city contracts.

"That's a cheap shot. I think people know how hard I work in our community," Tierney told CBC News after the debate.

He described how the community has helped refugees from Syria settle in the Donald Street area, and how the community has beentackling violence on Jasmine Crescent.

Tierney, on the other hand, brought up how Schurterdoes not live in Beacon Hill-Cyrville but in neighbouring Innesward.

East end issues

"That's all he has, because he doesn't have new ideas," Schurter said.

"He's not bringing forward creative legislation. What he's bringing forward is my address."

Schurter told CBC that residents want to talk about parking issues in the neighbourhoods that surroundhuge security agency compoundsnear Blair and Ogilvie roads.

Residents are frustrated by federal employees who block driveways and don't obey time limits for parking, he said.

Schurter also wants to propose an ombudsman for small businesses, who could champion their needs, and discuss the merits of asmaller city council.

Tierney, meanwhile,is seeking a third term.

It's a critical one, he said, because the new council is set to discuss the city's transportation vision, review its ward boundaries, open the new central library and launch the second phase oflight rail.

The two candidates are scheduled to debate again, justdays before the election, at an event on Oct. 17 at Colonel By High School organized by three community associations.