Four candidates to fill Durham's West 3 council seat clashed sharply on housing, police reform, and poverty solutions during interviews, advancing to a public hearing January 10th before a final vote.
Four West 3 council candidates clashed on housing, with Cook criticizing the SCAD zoning ordinance as developer-led while Swain proposed Toronto-style mixed-income models and Huggins backed job training programs.
Cook advocated for police abolition while Swain and Bourgeois supported current police with expanded mental health services, revealing fundamental disagreements on public safety strategy.
Public hearing for finalists advances January 10th at 7 p.m. with council vote scheduled January 16th at 9:30 a.m., followed by same-day swearing in of the appointee.