Three candidates for Pacific City Council and two mayoral contestants showed up for a debate last week at the Pacific Gymnasium.

Beyond arguments made, the night was notable for Council candidate Kevin Cline politely but repeatedly declining to answer questions because he hadn’t had time to study the issues. He said was in the race to offer an alternative to incumbent Joshua Putnam, Position 6.

Cline’s embarrassing performance had the effect of turning the evening into a debate between Mayor Richard Hildreth and John C. Jones, who hopes to take his job away, with nary a nod to the empty chair set aside for no-show mayoral candidate Cy Sun.

Councilman Clint Steiger, Position 3, was present for the debate but is running unopposed.

Jones, a two-year member of the Council, has served on the City’s Civil Service Commission, its Planning Commission and its Park Board. He pledged to bring a new leadership approach to city management and provide an open, accountable, approachable and fiscally-responsible government.

Hildreth, seeking his a third term, is a commercial-industrial electrician with a two-year degree from Clover Park Technical College and four-year electrical apprenticeship. He spoke proudly of his accomplishments and his willingness to stand up for what is right.

A White River Drive resident who’d suffered loss in the flooding of 2009, asked what the candidates would do to correct a situation where river debris cannot be touched, and where “fish have been given more importance than people and homes on the White River.”

Hildreth said that the City has been working to remove the debris some day, but making that happen, he said, will take time. He said the first part of any debris removal program should be to complete a study, which would cost between $1.5 to $2 million, well beyond the City’s present ability to pay. He said the City, however, has been working with the Army Corps of Engineers on an investigational study on the White River that will be released in 2013, and that study will contain a section on how to better manage the river.

“We believe debris management is a big part of ongoing maintenance … and levee setbacks will help prevent a repeat of the floods of 2009,” Hildreth said.

Jones agreed that dredging needs to be done, but added that removal of a berm on the side of the river would be more cost effective, allowing the river to expand toward the east.

“I do believe … you have to keep a constant vigil on King County and the Army Corps of Engineers and the state so this small city of ours doesn’t get sidestepped …,” Jones said.

Asked what he would cut from the budget in light of the recession, Hildreth said his first priority would be to preserve the core functions of public safety, public works and roads. He added that the City would have to study lesser services to assess what costs would go up in the event of a program’s elimination.

“If you cut the youth program, most likely you are going to see the crime rate go back up,” Hildreth said. “If you cut police enforcement for speeding or drugs, there are consequences to be paid.”

Jones suggested that the City needs to find more efficient ways to do business.

“Basically, you have to look at the budget in relationship to the projection of income. We have a responsibility to do a balanced budget. … The core responsibility of the government is utilities, roads and taking care of citizens. The best way to reduce the budget is to find a more efficient way to do what we do,” Jones said.