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Cynthia BlockMayoral challengers treated her more like a cinder block as they ran away with metaphorical sledgehammers during a debate this week.

This dubious strategy for Don Atchison, Cary Tarasoff And Gord Wyant Above all, it’s a waste of time, denigrating the outgoing advisor while failing to explain why he or she represents a better choice or criticizing each other to better position oneself.

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This contest continues to play out so similarly to the last election four years ago that someone should file a lawsuit for copyright infringement.

Wyant took over the role from fellow former Saskatchewan Party minister Rob Norris, who finished a distant second, while Block is running as an incumbent after Mayor Charlie Clark opted against another offer.

One difference this time around can be identified as a distinct and ugly tinge of sexism as Block attempts to become the first woman to be elected mayor of Saskatoon.

In Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce debate On Wednesday, Block’s opponents tried to paint her as a Clark clone. That’s fair, but surely this logic should also apply to his fellow political veterans, former Mayor Atchison and former Minister Wyant.

Yet no one presented Wyant as an extension of Premier Scott Moe, even though he voted for Moe’s provincial budgets that included steep tax hikes, deficits and reduced funding for the Meewasin Valley Authority .

In Atchison’s seven election campaigns, he probably never faced criticism that he was just an extension of someone else.

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But the masterminds behind all these campaigns surely realize that Clark won half the vote despite having two strong opponents in the 2020 election. Directing half of the last election’s voters toward one of your opponents gets you a pride of place in the hall of fame for bad campaign strategies.

Add to that the results of Monday’s provincial election, which left a Saskatchewan Party MP standing in Saskatoon — and barely — and appealing to Clark’s center-left supporters seems like a smarter strategy than trying to defame someone by associating with him.

But Tarasoff took it to an even lower level with offensive and condescending remarks questioning whether Block understood the issues. Tarasoff’s smug arrogance landed him a distant fourth place in 2020 and continues to undermine his bid to gain ground.

Tarasoff, who lacks any real political background or experience, has once again emerged as his greatest liability, and yet he questions anyone else’s understanding.

Block held his ground during the chamber debatebut seemed less feisty than she did at the North Saskatoon Business Association debate in September. Wyant performed better than NSBA Debatebut it would be difficult for him to do much worse.

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During the previous debate, Wyant read notes repeatedly, sounding more like an elementary school student speaking in front of the class for the first time than someone who has represented Saskatoon as an elected official for more than two decades . He looked, as he too often does, like someone who might participate against his will.

Ultimately, Wyant, a self-described “business lawyer,” lacks the charisma to easily overcome a narrative that will prove a tough sell. He said last month that he was “not a conservative,” even though he played a leadership role in arguably Canada’s most right-wing government — perhaps ever.

So who is this mysterious individual?

Conversely, everyone knows who Atchison is, but the argument for change doesn’t sit well with someone who was first elected to Saskatoon city council 30 years ago.

Atchison mentioned “faith-based” organizations several times during the debate, which represents dicey territory for someone who was aided in his past campaigns by students from a Saskatoon Christian school that is now involved in allegations of physical and sexual abuse, including criminal. convictions.

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Block, meanwhile, must overcome widespread discontent with incumbent governments that dealt a severe electoral setback to Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe on Monday.

She receives more unintentional help from her adversaries than she probably expected.

Phil Tank is the digital opinion editor of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.

ptank@postmedia.com

twitter.com/thinktankSK

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