Toronto's top six would-be mayors dropped the gloves in their first debate Monday and the biggest shots were thrown between former deputy premier George Smitherman and former Liberal strategist Rocco Rossi.
The pair squared off over Rossi's pitch to sell Toronto Hydro to pay down the city's debt.
Smitherman compared the proposal to former premier Mike Harris's justification for the "giveaway" of Highway 407.
On the other hand, Rossi attacked Smitherman's record at Queen's Park, particularly the billion dollar boondoggle surrounding eHealth.
The three-hour question-and-answer session at Mary Ward Catholic Secondary School in Scarborough had the candidates discuss a wide-range of issues, including public transit, road tolls, taxes, bike lanes and asset sales, among others.
Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone defended the record of his boss, Mayor David Miller, and decried the Ontario government's decision to delay $4 billion in funding for the Transit City plan.
Smitherman called Pantalone a veteran of the status quo and attacked him over the St. Clair West streetcar delays. He also repeatedly called for TTC Adam Giambrone to step down, which angered Rossi.
Magazine publisher Sarah Thomson repeatedly pushed her plan for a much expanded subway system, backed by road tolls.
Councillor Rob Ford said he would make the TTC an essential service and clean it up. Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti said the province should take over the TTC, and if not, there should be a focus on new subways, not streetcars.
