Three of Windsor’s top contenders for the mayor’s seat squared off on Wednesday afternoon at the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce mayoral debate.

A sold out crowd of 300 people packed into the Caboto Club to hear what Drew Dilkens, Larry Horwitz and John Millson had to say in their attempt to become the city’s next mayor.

“Friends we have a clear choice... a choice to continue to build on our success,” Dilkens says. “Hold the line on taxes, freeze our utility rates, fix our roads and sewers and improve our quality of life.”

Horwitz drove home that he’s a likeable guy, saying he’s spoken with thousands of residents around the city and has been hearing their concerns firsthand.

“I’m a local business man, a job creator and a community activist,” says Horwitz. “I believe in bold innovative policies and programs and initiatives that will ensure Windsor is a better place to live work and raise a family.”

Millson reaffirmed his position as a former mayor for the City of Windsor, saying he has been active in the political scene since leaving the top job in 1991.

“Although I left the political arena some time ago, I have remained fully engaged in the challenges that we face in the city that I love,” Millson says. “I will fight for new jobs, build the infrastructure that we need to protect our neighbourhoods and bring an open and accountable approach to city hall.”

All three candidates vowed to not raise taxes, while outlining plans for youth retention and job creation. But the debate heated up when Dilkens called out his competition on providing contradicting information on tax increases in the city.

"I just heard that it's not zero per cent, but that it's gone up 16, but that we're going to continue on a zero per cent tax increase,” Dilkens says. “I know because I've been around and my colleagues over there know the hard work that we put into it to keep it at zero for the last six years.”

Nine other candidates are running for mayor, but were not invited to par take in the chamber debate.

Windsor’s municipal election takes place on Oct. 27.