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By DIANE HART Special to the Beaver Mayoral candidates go headâ€"toâ€"head Mayor Ann Mulvale went on the attack Monday night, defendâ€" ing her work as mayor during the federal election. Although the issue of the mayor continuing to draw her mayor‘s salary while seeking a seat in the federal arena is not a new one â€" she was defeated by Liberal MP Bonnie Brown just over a year ago â€" Mulvale was adamant that peoâ€" ple realize she did not shirk her mayoralty duties. She and challenger, Ed Schuermer, faced each other at Monday‘s Ward 2 allâ€"candidates meeting at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. The meeting was coâ€" sponsored by the West Oakville Ratepayers‘ and West River Residents‘ Association. "I worked 19 hours a day, six days a week, for seven weeks. I didn‘t miss a council meeting; there was no slippage in my correâ€" spondence. I‘ll pitch my hours as mayor against anyone‘s before me. You got value for money during that time and each of the six years I have worked for this town as mayor," said Mulvale. She repeatâ€" ed again her list of duties when the question was pursued further. NOW PART OF THE WW WALâ€"MART TRAFALCAR VILLAGE ANNOUNCES A WARM WELCOME BACK! /72@%5.4 _ THE SPA AT IMAGES OAKVILLE TOWN CENTRE I (905) 338â€"3333 ket value assessment, which later came to a tied vote and finally was defeated. (Burlington has nine votes at the region; Oakville has only seven.) As well, the mayor said she had been persuaded by people to change her mind and seek reâ€"elecâ€" tion for a third term as Oakville‘s mayor. Failed mayoralty candiâ€" date, Blake Taylor, had commentâ€" ed that she might "try for an NDP" seat. In the literature handed out Monday evening, Mulvale‘s oppoâ€" nent, Ed Schuermer, said people have called to say they felt they PUD Our new â€"manager David Anderson is delighted to welâ€" come back one of Canada‘s top stylists Louise Poitras. Louise has over 15 years experience in hair colour design and styling and has also worked with both Clarol and Helene Curtis as a Technical Advisor. Louise would like to take this opportunity to invite all her existing and former clients to drop in for a coffee. 25 Cro have been misled by Mulvale when she ran again in Oakville following her unsuccessful bid for federal politics. "...based on Ann Mulvale‘s past run against Peter Pomeroy for the regional chairâ€" manship, it would be no surprise to see her run for the regional chair â€" are we Ann Mulvale‘s second banana?" "The people changed my mind," said Mulvale, in answer to Taylor‘s comment. Later, Mulvale said she has received "phenomeâ€" nal" support from people and said only one person has asked her in an accusatory way if she was "jumping ship." Mulvale said she had been so certain she would not return as mayor she threw out her old signs and had to erect new Ann signs. "People‘s lives do change, though," she said. In his opening remarks, Schuermer said he has heard taxes are too high and the lifestyle is not what Oakville residents have come to enjoy. He criticized the amount of money spent on projects for senior staff at Town Hall when flowers can‘t get planted due to cutbacks and weeds are not cut. "Why is the public hit with visiâ€" ble things like flower planting; why is transit cut; why does the town have the most expensive development charges? Things are not well at the Town Hall, and we need a new vision," said Schuermer, adding he is getting a groundswell of support. Mulvale pointed to the changes made to the town under her leaderâ€" ship â€" the town square; the highâ€" way 403 extension; the Cornwall Road extension; parkland safeâ€" guards; waterfront development; and the Upper Middle Road bridge. "We have won more than we have lost (in recessionary times)," said the mayor, adding there have been many rippling effects to the community from major businesses like Ford and Menasco. by Steve Nease