Hobbs, Boshcoff square off on crime issue

The race for mayor in Thunder Bay appears to be heating up, before the deadline to register for office has even passed.

Current city councillor and former mayor Ken Boshcoff issued a media release on Thursday evening, calling for an end to violence in the city. Thunder Bay has had eight homicides this year.

Boshcoff made a specific pledge for action if he is elected.

"Within one week of taking office as your Mayor, I will hold a town hall meeting to rally our community in common cause to end this senseless violence."

"We have many plans on the books. I am offering my leadership skills to bring people together to seriously drive towards turning this around. We know that combined efforts can produce real results."

Boshcoff took a direct shot at current mayor, and candidate Keith Hobbs. Hobbs' major platform in the 2010 election was crime and safety.

"This matter has become top of mind for everyone in the community. I cannot promise as others have that I can end crime, but I am certainly willing to work with anybody or any group that REALLY is willing to commit to dealing with this head-on."

Hobbs: "Where have you been for the last 4 years?"

Mayor Keith Hobbs said Boshcoff noted in a July interview that the city is safe, and there are more pressing issues.

"I would ask Mr. Boshcoff what he has done to reduce crime in the last four years that he has sat on Council. We have seen no public statements from him, he has not participated in the Crime Prevention Council initiatives at all and two months before the election all of a sudden he's promising action."

"Why promise action a week after elected? Where have you been for the last 4 years?"

Hobbs said it was "disgusting" that Boshcoff is capitalizing on homicides to further his political goals. He also said Boshcoff threw the CLE Board under the bus for political gain.

Hobbs said the city has seen a reduction in crime, and is working with Nishnawbe Aski Nation leadership to work with city council and police on safety and crime issues.

Hobbs said in his statement that drug and alcohol as well as homelessness is a root cause of a lot of the crime in the city.

"In 1997 the Thunder Bay Police Association presented a brief to the Police Services Board about the high alcohol/drug use in Thunder Bay. Jim Mauro was the presenter. Ken Boshcoff was the Mayor and the member of the PSB. In 2003, the Police Association reported nothing had changed. Ken Boshcoff was still the Mayor. Need I say more?"