The Andy Griffith Playhouse in Mount Airy normally hosts artistic performances, but on Tuesday night its stage was filled with political candidates who “auditioned” for a crowd of voters.

Under the glow of bright lights, the four city mayoral hopefuls, plus two commissioner candidates running unopposed, responded to a series of questions during the event sponsored by the Public Policy Division of the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce.

Individual candidates used the forum to highlight their qualifications as well as critique recent actions by local government and how they would handle leadership, budgetary, taxation and other decisions if elected.

Some of the strongest comments came in response to a question posed by a chamber moderator about what the office-seekers believe was a poor decision by city government and how they would remedy those problems. High water bills and annexation seemed to take center stage.

Deborah Cochran, a city commissioner since 2007 now campaigning for the mayor’s job, said she ran for office two years ago after local residents were hit with a huge utility rate increase that also came as many were losing their jobs.

“If I had been on the board at that time, I would have done everything in my power to see that this did not happen,” Cochran said.

There was also plenty of criticism for recent forced annexations, notably that of the Cross Creek community in June 2008.

“In hindsight, it possibly could have been handled in a more diplomatic manner,” Teresa Lewis, another candidate for mayor, said of the process finalized after a court battle.

“We could have brought in these folks in a smoother fashion,” said Paul Eich, who added that the move “made a lot of people unhappy,” folks who still don’t consider themselves a part of Mount Airy. The city manager is a professional, Eich said, but he should have approached the annexation in a more professional manner.

Stephen Yokeley, who is running without opposition for a South Ward council seat, was directly involved because of living in a neighborhood taken in by the municipality. “I am just not a proponent of forced annexation,” Yokeley said.

Those annexed didn’t need city services, in Yokeley’s view, and the action also has put the city $21 million in debt while helping to deflate a local surplus fund that once totaled $16 million, but is now down to $640,000, he said.

Eich also attacked a recent decision to spend $40,000 on a consultant who determined that the city needed to fork out $378,000 for a new telephone system later voted down 3-2 by the council. Calling such consultants “hired guns” who exist to supply predictable results, the candidate said, “They know what the answer needs to be, or they’re not going to get the job the next time.”

“We’ve got to find a better way to do our business than that,” Eich said. “We can’t get a new telephone system just because the warranty has run out.”

Mayoral candidate Gene Clark shifted gears to blast the city’s handling of a rezoning request for a dry-cleaning business on Renfro Street. Though a new set of commissioners ultimately approved the zoning change in 2008, Clark said not supplying an answer one way or the other to the businessman involved delaying a worthy project for two to three years.

Taxes, Budgeting

Clark also took a shot at taxes when the candidates were asked for their views on budget-related issues. “I think our tax structure needs to be reviewed,” he said in reference to a recent study showing Mount Airy residents have a high tax burden compared to other municipalities.

The mayoral candidate also said Mount Airy should adopt a “zero-based” budgeting process that starts on the ground floor and is built up based on what essential services need to be funded on a line-by-line basis. As it is, the city manager simply presents a spending “overview,” Clark added, but citizens need the zero-based method “to make sure we are getting what we spend our money on.”

Eich said poor budgeting decisions have left Mount Airy financially unable to correct its “crumbling infrastructure” of aging water and sewer lines. He also questioned the recent allocation of $900,000 to extend utilities to two sites in a local industrial park, which could have instead been used to lower utility rates by 16 percent or replace older lines.

Cochran said that since taking office, she has voted against property tax and utility hikes, pointing out that taxes have fallen from 63 to 58 cents per $100 of assessed valuation during that time. “I’m definitely conservative,” she said.

Commissioner Jon Cawley, running unopposed for his North Ward seat, agreed that taxes are high and utility bills are a concern, though it has been stated that utility rates are in line with other areas. But Cawley said he believes that just because a charge is “in line” doesn’t necessarily mean it is good.

“One of the things I’ve learned this year is that it takes three votes (to effect change),” added Cawley, who took office in the fall of 2008. He also said the city’s payroll should be lowered by not replacing personnel who retire.

“I think that we can possibly cut the budget,” said Yokeley. “I do think we need to build up our reserve funds.”

Lewis, meanwhile, applauded Mount Airy’s budgeting procedures. “It appears the city is operating and delivering services in an exceptional manner with the funds that are available,” she said.

All the candidates were generally in agreement that Mount Airy doesn’t need to acquire additional debt.

“Further debt would need to be something of an emergency nature,” Lewis said.

While Cawley said he might support more borrowing if the city were to receive a federal stimulus grant that possibly required a 10-percent local match, others favor no debt at all.

“Right now, I don’t think we need to borrow money regardless,” said Yokeley, who advocates paying down what’s already there.

“I don’t see a need to keep going in more debt,” Clark agreed. “We need to be in a pay-as-you-go mentality.”

Said Cochran: “I’m not an advocate of borrowing money — in fact, I think it’s imperative to save money.” The only exception would be if debt would directly relate to the creation of jobs to the point the expense could be justified, she added.

“Agents Of Change”

Candidates also were asked whether they considered themselves “stewards of past practices or agents of change.”

While respect was voiced for the service rendered by former mayors and commissioners, the office-seekers suggested that previous actions can’t be copied if Mount Airy is to move forward.

“Your past practices are not going to serve us well in the future,” Clark said.

“I think that we have had an open pocketbook for things that might not have been needed,” Cawley said. But the incumbent said the city’s recent action to approve $900,000 for utility extensions that could result in new jobs also can be considered an “agent of change.”

Yokeley said that while some past actions have been proper, “I definitely think that there needs to be change.”

Pointing out that “change is a part of life,” Eich said Mount Airy can’t continue its present budget policies that don’t eliminate personnel or reduce spending for non-essential functions.

Lewis said she wanted to avoid criticizing past officials, “but I do believe we are in a transition in our city.”

In citing their individual qualifications to meet future challenges, the candidates offered a variety of comments.

Stressing her 20 months of service so far, Cochran said she would “build positive team relations” as mayor, and make sure the city gets by on less as many citizens must do.

“I think the big key is being able to communicate,” Clark said, with the mayor interacting with the people and bringing their concerns to the commissioners. “We’ve got to get to where the city council is running the city.”

Eich, referring to the fact the Chamber of Commerce sponsored Tuesday night’s forum, said there needs to be a “chamber of citizens,” which he said is the board of commissioners.

“We need to bring our city together,” he said, “so we can all enjoy what we have here.”

Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.