The city of London's mayoral candidates including, Joe Fontana, Ivan Kasiurak, Arthur Majoor, Cynthia Etheridge, and Matthew L. R. Shantz, are all looking to replace Anne Marie DeCicco-Best, who is also running once again, as the new political leader in the city.

Fontana, a former federal MP, said Fanshawe students are essential for the future growth of the city and said that he will continue to work towards creating more jobs for graduates of the College.

“The students are a great asset and are the future of the city. They want opportunities, to gain jobs, and build their careers,” Fontana said. “We want to provide incentive based internships for graduates. We want people to be educated here, live here, work here, and eventually retire here (in London).”

Fontana praised Fanshawe for producing quality individuals who are essential stakeholders in the city of London.

“I'm a great fan of Fanshawe,” Fontana said. “Fanshawe has proven they create a good product. We will make sure that more opportunities are available for them in London.”

Fontana hopes to utilize his 18 years of experience to not only win the election, but to move London forward in the 21st century.

“I have the knowledge and experience and I plan on using it to make London a great place to live,” the politician said.

Ivan Kasiurak, a mainstay in the mayoral election, said Fanshawe students are vital members of the city.

“Students are as important to London as any other citizen,” said Kasiurak. “I look at London as a large bicycle wheel and every citizen is a spoke in the wheel, and every spoke in the wheel is important for the strength of the wheel. If one is broken it weakens the wheel and if more are broke the wheel collapses. The same for the wheel of London if one spoke is broken it weakens the wheel and if more spokes are broken then the wheel of London collapses.”

Mayoral candidate Arthur Majoor said the energy and outlooks of students are very important to the future of the city.

“They bring new perspectives, outside viewpoints and entrepreneurial energy to the city, and should be encouraged to live and work in the city both while in school and after graduation,” Majoor said.

The issues of public transit, parking, and the city's garbage issue all affect students on a daily basis.

Fontana and Majoor both said that improvements must be made to the public transit system.

“We need more bicycle path and racks on buses,” Fontana said. “Public transportation needs to be more affordable and customer oriented.”

If he were elected mayor, Majoor said that he would continue to support bus passes for College students.

“As mayor, I would support the efforts of the LTC (London Transit Commission) to improve and modernize mass transit, including continuing the provision of bus passes to the student bodies of Fanshawe and UWO (University of Western Ontario), introducing “Bus Rapid Transit” and other means to reduce the number of cars on the road,” Majoor said.

Shantz, Etheridge, and DeCicco-Best, a Fanshawe graduate, were unable to be reached in time for the papers deadline. Representatives with the media relation's department of DeCicco-Best's campaign assured the Interrobang that DeCicco-Best would contact them via phone, but DeCicco-Best failed to follow through.