Peter Harford from Pete's Takeaways says he is impressed with most of the candidates who spoke at Wednesday night's SunLive and 93.4 MoreFM Mayoral Debate.
"When you put a whole lot of people in a room, the first candidate speaks and then everybody speaks for or against him," says Peter.

A replay of the SunLive and 93.4 MoreFM Mayoral Debate is available to watch on TV Central this weekend. Times: Friday 8pm, Saturday 2pm and Sunday 10pm.

"You have to get to the individuals to find out what they are really thinking.
He's impressed with the current mayor acknowledging Tauranga is going to have to accept rates rises, while other mayoral candidates are saying they want to reduce rates.
"Tauranga has got growing pains and we are the fifth biggest city in the country," says Peter.
"It does raise the point that money spent on parks and reserves, and the Baywaves and Bayparks might better have been spent on infrastructure - roads, water, storm water, sewerage," says Pete.
"I was very surprised to hear it cost $10 million at Baywave to make a wave, Hori Bop brought that up, but they are a bit like politicians in Parliament.
"The big spenders are not accountable. If they spend money on Baywave and Baypark, if they do lose money they are not held accountable."

Barry Elshaw Tauranga Volunteer Coastguard administrator says he filled out his voting papers before he went to the candidate debate, but he didn't hear anything to make him change his mind.
"Nothing's changed," says Barry. "I haven't gone home and opened the envelope or tried to alter anything, I'm sticking with what I originally put down. In my personal opinion it is only a two horse race.
"I thought it was a good little exercise and I think that those who get in should actually take note of some of the things that were discussed.
"I think our city's got a good future, but we have got to watch the money."

Mount Maunganui College English teacher Dinah O'Meara says the debate was a chance to learn something about the candidates she knew little about.
"I think I did come away having made a decision, and that some were more impressive," says Dinah.
"I think there's a difference between being a councillor and being a mayor, who has to have some charisma as well as being able to work with people who do not agree with your personal philosophy.
"Some I wonder if they would work with a team of people or if they are people who prefer to work individually."
Dinah also wondered if the candidates had given any thought to the day-to-day details and compromises a mayor has to make.
"I thought Stuart Crosby did a reasonable job, but I think I sense a need for a bit of a change now, someone who will be more dynamic as a leader," says Dinah.
"I do wonder about some of the candidates and what sort of experience they have had with council and the day-to-day details of running a city."
Dinah attended with student Saul Knights who asked the candidates a question about how the Tauranga City Centre is going to be made more attractive to people.
"The teenagers are not going to the centre of the city, there's nothing there to pull them in," says Dinah.
"At the Mount they have the beach, the movies, and shopping with free parking."

Read an analysis of the debate here.

View candidate opening statements here.