The two leading candidates for mayor of Vancouver faced off in their first official debate Wednesday night in front of about 200 people at the Vancouver Public Library.

The Non-Partian Association's candidate, Peter Ladner, and Vision Vancouver candidate Gregor Robertson faced questions from a panel of journalists and the public.

And although Ladner's party leans to the right, and Robertson's leans to the left, the two tall, white, middle-aged men - both known for riding their bikes around town - worked hard to distinguish themselves from each other, although they shared some common ground.

'If experience was the ultimate qualification for being a good leader, then Sam Sullivan's dozen years as a city councillor would have led to a fantastic three years at city hall.'—-Gregor Robertson, mayoral candidate

When asked to give their top priority, Ladner said, "We have to end homelessness."

Robertson also said, "Ending homelessness is the top priority."

Both candidates for the Nov. 15 election voiced their support for the city's supervised injection site, and their opposition to legalized prostitution.

And both also supported compensation for Cambie Street merchants affected by the construction of the new rapid transit line. But it was Robertson, who championed the issue, who said compensation should have been offered before many of the businesses closed down.

Support of Sullivan questioned

The real fight to show their differences started when Robertson starting going after Ladner's support of Non-Partisan Association Mayor Sam Sullivan, whose troubled term included a bitter civic strike.

But it was Ladner who staged a political coup this June, knocking out Sullivan as the party's candidate for mayor in the Nov. 14 civic election, and Wednesday night he made it clear he was no longer a Sullivan supporter.

"I'm a very different person from Sam Sullivan," said the veteran councillor, who pointed out Robertson, a one-term B.C. NDP MLA, lacks any experience on Vancouver city council.

"I don't know if Gregor's ever sat through an entire city hall meeting," said Ladner, a Vancouver councillor for six years.

In response, Robertson brought the debate back to the NPA's record under Sullivan.

"If experience was the ultimate qualification for being a good leader, then Sam Sullivan's dozen years as a city councillor would have led to a fantastic three years at city hall," said Robertson.

When asked about outgoing Sullivan's controversial Civic City initiative, a $300,000 scheme to reduce panhandling, public disorder and homelessness, Ladner agreed that it was a disappointment.

Ladner didn't respond to the direct question as to whether he would do away with the initiative if elected, but Robertson said the city has already received a report showing the program is a failure.

Several more debates are scheduled before the election.