[projekktor id=’15129′]

(Updated)

Light Rail Transit was the hot topic at an otherwise tame mayoral debate in Hamilton Thursday. The three leading candidates squared off over issues facing the city. And while there was no obvious winner, the debate ended with a bang.

Brad Clark, Fred Eisenberger and Brian McHattie threw few punches at the microphone until the topic of light rail transit was raised.

Fred Eisenberger: “LRT is the biggest bang for our buck. There’s a return there that we don’t ignore that Mr. Clark doesn’t talk about.”

Brad Clark: “There are numerous transportation studies that show bus rapid transit will do exactly what we’re talking about with LRT.”

Eisenberger and McHattie called Clark out on a recent reversal of his LRT stance — he’s previously voted pro.

Brian McHattie: “When you’re in the negotiation phase with the province of Ontario, now’s not the time to start changing your mind.”

When asked if he’d support a referendum on the issue, McHattie opposed, saying LRT will spark development and the time is now: “When the rails go in the ground, the developers take the cue from that and they build the new residential, the new office buildings along that corridor.”

Clark on the other hand, is ready to take the issue to voters.

Brad Clark: “I’ve never, ever had a challenge or was ever afraid of referendums. They’re a tool that work very well within the community.”

Eisenberger rejected the idea of a referendum, instead proposing a citizen’s jury panel: “Let them make a recommendation and I will live by that recommendation whether it’s BRT, LRT or nothing at all.”

Opinion was mixed on whose answers they liked best — but communications expert Laura Babcock, says most voters are looking for more in a candidate: “They may be voting on a ballot issue, which in our case may be LRT but they still want to like the person who is going to lead their city. They want to relate.”

And when it came to likeability, audience members felt Eisenberger hit a high note in his quick response to an interruption: “LRT or no LRT, BRT or whatever you want to call it — I’m sorry to upset you on that one.” Moderator Bill Kelly: “Someone just fell over when they heard you all agree on something.” Eisenberger: “Staggering.”

There are many more debates to come before election day, and most voters are just starting to get acquainted with the candidates. Only three were invited to participate in today’s debate, but there are 12 in total.