I looked at the slate (as of press time) and figured it was a little thin on diversity. For example, all six candidates are men, and I venture to suggest they are all over 40 (apologies if I am wrong). So am I; but I am female, so there’s that.

And oh boy, do I have a platform for you.

You may be aware by now that the downtown library, crumbling more or less before our eyes, is slated to be replaced by a large and fairly fancy new facility. It’s supposed to cost about $134 million, with the city’s portion coming in at $67.5 million.

It is time for the beloved Frances Morrison branch to go; there’s little doubt about it. But oh my, that’s a buck. Recall, if you will, the last time we spent that kind of money on a public building.

The Remai Modern Art Gallery. It cost something like $95 million, not including the $20-million parking garage. (Or if you prefer, the rRemai mModern, which is the most ridiculous logo I believe I have ever seen. That is beside the point.)

Therefore, this new build makes me a bit nervous, even though I fundamentally support the library’s replacement.

So! Why don’t we put the new library into the new art gallery? There’s plenty of space. Besides, books are art, too, right? I mean, those perpetually devoid-of-art walls could be covered in shelving. Empty galleries could be repurposed into reading rooms plus, yes, more books. I bet that could save the Saskatoon property taxpayer a bundle.

We could divert the savings — let’s say $40 million — into moving the Canadian Pacific rail line outside the city. It’d be a drop in the multi-million bucket, but it’s a start.

I just realized I need $100 and 25 signatures for submitting my candidacy papers. I’ll see if I can pull that off by Oct. 7.

Well, the other mayoral candidates are also weighing in on the library issue. Former mayor Don Atchison (who supports the idea of a new library) wants more information; Rob Norris, Cary Tarasoff, and Zubair Sheikh are against it, at least at that price; and Mark Zielke will ‘seek an analysis’ on the project.

Incumbent Mayor Charlie Clark says the project is well-advanced, and it will also create jobs and downtown activity in a grim COVID environment. (Valid points.)

A new library likely won’t help hold the line on taxes which, of course, are always front and centre in the mayoral campaign.

Norris is promising a one per cent increase, which he will achieve through a hiring freeze. Atchison is again promising a tax freeze, at least for 2021; but he promised that during his first campaign and see how that turned out. Sheikh has come out with a freeze for four years. Zielke and Tarasoff say tax freezes cannot be promised.

The incumbent, for his part, says he will continue to work toward reducing the increases as he has managed to do over his term.

So, let’s take a peek at the tax increase percentages over the last 10 years, shall we? (Thank you, CBC, for compiling this list. Note that 2011- 2016 are Atchison years.)

2011: 4%

2012: 4%

2013: 5%

2014: 7.4%

2015: 5.3%

2016: 4%

2017: 4.8%

2018: 3.8%

2019: 4.4%

2020: 3.7%

Apart from that 7.4 per cent year, it rather looks like we’re consistently getting increases in the four to five percent range, more or less. And I doubt that tax freezes or even small increases are possible, particularly in the pandemic era.

Then there is The Lighthouse issue. Some candidates are suggesting it should be moved to another part of the city, but where? The problem is not The Lighthouse. The problem is a basket of misery containing poverty, a pandemic, drug use and mental health. These issues are not Saskatoon’s alone. They are widespread, horrific and must be dealt with at all levels of government.

The police service is indeed funded by the city, but what about, for example, health care? Without higher-level support we stand no chance. Neither do the people who find refuge at The Lighthouse.

When you vote on Nov. 9, it’s important to remember that the mayor has one vote on council and examining councillor platforms is also crucial. However, he the mayor, and yes, I mean he, has a high profile and is still the leader of this city.

Earlier attempts at levity aside: If I may, I suggest we vote carefully Nov. 9. This one is really important.

-Joanne Paulson