FREMANTLE mayoral candidates Brad Pettit and Ra Stewart are in for a debate-fest after the latter challenged the incumbent to one a week up until the election.

Ms Stewart offered to organise a debate in each of the council’s six wards if the council wasn’t interested, but Dr Pettitt says there’s already a bunch being organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Notre Dame University.

“I would rather participate in these community organised debates as has been the tradition than participate in another whole set that I imagine will end up being rather repetitive,” Dr Pettitt said.

Ms Stewart has also called for Fremantle to follow Melville council and adopt a caretaker period leading up to the elections.

She said the council should hold off on putting out the tender for the redevelopment of Kings Square and its admin building.

by STEVE GRANT