Despite concerns about a potentially low election turnout, the candidates took the opportunity yesterday to set out their positions on key issues raised during the campaign.

All agreed that the ambitious $639 million blueprint for the redevelopment of Hamilton waterfront, unveiled by the Corporation in July, is likely to have to be scaled back.

LAWSON MAPP

Mr. Mapp, who has been Mayor of Hamilton since 2000, said he was sad that as the challengers for his position were both Aldermen prior to nomination day ? and their posts have now been filled ? the losing candidates will be out of the Corporation altogether.

"It's unprecedented to have two Aldermen challenging the incumbent mayor ? I don't recall any other situation," said Mr. Mapp, 68. "Sadly it's like musical chairs with three people and only one chair. The sad thing is that when the others are no longer there, the City will be weaker for that."

A signwriter by trade, Mr. Mapp, from Pembroke, said he would bring the benefit of continuity if elected along with a capacity to be a good team player.

Key commitments include recruiting a developer for a long-promised new city centre hotel, and pressing on with redeveloping the waterfront.

Of the latter, he said: "I have had some feedback that the plan is a bit grandiose, but it's a good thing that we have got people talking. At the end of the day we might have to scale back."

JAY BLUCK

Mr Bluck promised to bring dogged determination to the Mayor's post should he be voted in.

"I'm a little like a terrier in that I get on to problems and work at them until we find an acceptable solution," said the 65-year-old retired merchant.

He listed one of his personal strengths as being receptive to ideas from others - and pledged to hold weekly luncheons with constituents and land owners in the mayor's parlour to hear their views.

"I would also like to look at a constituency clinic where people would be welcome to come along at a particular time to discuss any issue," added Mr. Bluck, who lives in Somerset.

Like Mr. Mapp, he pledged to find an investor for a new hotel. On the subject of the waterfront blueprint, he said: "Everybody I've spoken to feels it's much larger scale than it need be. In a way we did that deliberately to stimulate discussion on issues like lack of retail and parking space."

SONIA GRANT

Miss Grant is hoping to become the first female Mayor in the Corporation's history. An attorney by profession, she said she was feeling "upbeat" about her chances after canvassing a substantial number of constituents.

"I'm very hard working, and my strength lies in my attention to detail and my experience as a lawyer," she said.

On the subject of the waterfront, she added: "By far the majority of those I have spoken to have said that the plan is over the top and grandiose."

Miss Grant, who lives in Devonshire, pledged to make the Corporation more open to the public and press alike.

"The new Corporation website is 90 percent done and we will publish decisions taken by the Corporation. I will ensure that we become a little more press-friendly, which we have not been for the past three years," she said, promising an "open door policy."