Approximately 95 residents packed into St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Kirkland to observe the Kirkland City Council candidate forum Wednesday night.

Central topics included the city budget, the recent annexation and the protection of local parks.

Charisma was prevalent among the seven contenders, who included incumbent Jane Hague and challenger Richard Mitchell for King County Council District No. 6, Bob Sternoff and opponent Jason Gardiner for Kirkland City Council Position No. 2, Jessica Greenway and competitor Toby Nixon for Position No. 4, and Dave Asher for Position No. 6.

Also scheduled to attend was Jim Hart for Position No. 6, but he could not be present.

The event was hosted by the Denny Creek Neighborhood Alliance and moderated by Denise Smith, former president of the League of Women Voters.

Candidates represented were asked to introduce themselves and then took turns answering questions submitted by Kirkland residents.

First, the city council candidates explained their long-term visions for Kirkland. All answers emphasized the importance of public opinion in their plans for the city.

“I want Kirkland to be an example statewide of how to do open government right,” said Nixon.

Sternoff, Greenway, and Asher all addressed Kirkland’s potential for attracting more businesses. Asher specifically mentioned the redevelopment of the Totem Lake Malls as essential to the economic growth of Kirkland.

Visions of financial improvement transitioned into the second question, which asked candidates for their budget priorities and opinions on Kirkland’s two most wasteful expenses.

Here, outlooks briefly fractured: Sternoff contended that the budget has not been sustainable since he first began reviewing it in 1996, while Greenway professed pride for the way Kirkland has managed the budget during these tough times.

Later, Sternoff proposed partnerships to cut waste on expenses such as park and road maintenance, and Nixon agreed.

“For example, we could create a regional fire authority, combining with the Northshore or Woodinville districts,” Nixon said. “This would lower overhead, but provide the same level of service.” He elaborated, suggesting the city contract government services out to the private and non-profit sectors.

Gardiner and Greenway emphasized the need for sustainable revenue, such as new businesses, both in the form of retail/restaurants and high-tech corporations that provide good jobs for citizens.

Next, the forum shifted toward the recent annexation and what must be done to ensure that the union is successful. This round, candidates lightened up the dialogue.

“The most important thing we can do is learn how to dance,” Asher said, highlighting the importance of effective, two-way communication between the government and its constituents.

Sternoff later agreed: “We do need to learn how to dance. Not with Dave (Asher) though.” The comment was met with laughs.

Gardiner and Greenway encouraged the audience to communicate with their representatives until policies change. Greenway reminded listeners that representatives are in place to help residents get organized in their new city.

Nixon urged residents to hold the government to its commitments, citing a Northshore utility tax that was higher than promised.

The most passionate topic centered on the management of Kirkland park lands. All candidates supported the city taking ownership of Big Finn Hill Park and the maintenance of O.O. Denny Park, both in the new neighborhoods.

However, they also noted that an arrangement needed to be negotiated about who would pay for park upkeep. When pressed for their philosophy about developing forested park land on Finn Hill, all contenders agreed again.

The summative phrase was, “Once a forest is lost, we never get it back.”

Concessions were made when questioned about the potential construction of a fire station on a corner of Big Finn Hill Park. Sternoff reminded the audience of the necessity to balance the environment with public safety.

Nixon said, “We use those kinds of sites (Big Finn Hill Park) only for essential public facilities and only as a last resort.”

Greenway noted that four other sites are also being analyzed as potential locations for the fire station.

The King County Council District 6 candidates took the floor next. First, candidates were asked about their county budget priorities. Hague admitted that the county has budget issues, but was optimistic about the lengths the county is taking to bridge the structural gap.

Mitchell was much more critical of the budget.

“There is a long-term challenge that the county has of looking at its mandated, required services … and those that are discretionary,” he said.

The opponents agreed on renewing the King County parks levy, as well as helping Kirkland use a purchased portion of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad corridor for a cross-Kirkland trail.