Mississauga voters reject personal attacks in mayoral race; 74% say insults unacceptable

Mississauga voters are rejecting personal attacks in the mayoral race, according to a new poll released Tuesday.

Liaison Strategies surveyed 1,000 Mississauga residents Oct. 2–4, immediately following the Oct. 1 mayoral debate. Seventy-four per cent said personal comments or insults about other candidates are unacceptable during an election campaign. Just 14 per cent described the campaign as mostly respectful; 34 per cent called it mostly mean-spirited; and 38 per cent saw a mix of both.

The survey came after heated exchanges at the Oct. 1 debate between incumbent Bonnie Crombie, Carolyn Parrish and Alvin Tedjo. Parrish referred to Crombie as a "blonde bombshell" and said "staff were terrified that she was coming back." Tedjo told Crombie, "You're here because this is your backup plan, you can't do anything else, so you decided to come back." Parrish and Crombie had also exchanged words on social media in July.

David Valentin, principal of Liaison Strategies, said the results speak to voter fatigue with negative campaigning. "The campaign clashes have put campaign conduct in the spotlight. These results show very little public appetite for personal insults. Making an opponent look bad is not the same as making yourself look like the better mayor," he said.

Tedjo has previously spoken out against personal attacks. Crombie and Parrish have not yet responded to the poll results.

The Mississauga mayoral election is set for Oct. 26. Advance voting opened Oct. 6 and runs through Oct. 11.