Last night's election forum for the 12 candidates seeking one of six seats on city council in the Oct. 15 election was sometimes comical, sometimes abrasive.

The five incumbents seeking re-election stood by their records over the last three years and more.

Challengers poured forward criticisms of poor fiscal management through several consecutive years of steady property tax increases, with another one on the way.

For 90 minute, some 80 members of the audience listened as moderator Samson Hartland of the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce posed a dozen questions formulated by his organization, which sponsored the forum at The Old Fire Hall on First Avenue.

Candidates were asked for their thoughts on everything from residential development along the clay cliffs to fees for parking meters.

They were quizzed on what they would do to promote Whitehorse, and how they see their role as a city councillor.

In their opening and closing remarks, the candidates unfolded platforms on the importance of protecting green spaces and maintaining a first-class trail network

They promised to hold city hall's feet to the fire on spending, and to investigate ways of making the much-maligned transit system more user-friendly.

"I thought it was very interesting,” Doug Mowat said in a brief interview following the forum.

The session included more than an hour for the two mayoral candidates to discuss the issues.

"The only question I wish they would have asked the councillors was: what would be their priorities over the next three years?” Mowat said.

The forum changed his mind about a couple of the candidates, he added.

"It was worth coming,” he said. "It's always good to see the candidates in a public arena.”

Heather Leduc said it's helpful to see and hear directly from the candidates about where they stand.

She would have liked to see, however, the discussion on the bus system expanded to include other alternative means of transportation, like cycling and walking.

For long-time local resident Brian Eaton, who just missed winning a seat on council in the 2006 election, there were many of the same key issues as three years ago.

"The Official Community Plan was an issue,” he said. "Transit was an issue and McLean Lake was an issue. But there was not one word breathed about McLean tonight.”

In the end, incumbent Dave Stockdale joked that after 26 years as a councillor, voters would be doing his wife a favour by re-electing him, otherwise she wouldn't know what to do with him on Monday nights, when council has its regular meetings.

Candidate and local lawyer Graham Lang blasted the existing regime for financial mismangement while promising to find a way to freeze taxes if he is successful next Thursday.

Incumbent Jeanine Myhre promised to bring three more years of the objectivity required to make what are often difficult decisions, free of bias.

Although with no previous political experience, newcomer Jan Brault (commonly known as "JanBro”) said her years working in tourism and her involvement in community organizations provide her with the insight and ability to get the job done.

Ron Swizdaryk said that as a businessman who's raised his family here and has spent countless hours involved in their sporting activities, he wants to give back to the community and balance the books at the same time.

Incumbent Doug Graham described himself as fiscal conservative on council. That's a role he would continue to serve in while he maintaining his focus on the development of the waterfront and the many land-related issues facing the city, he said.

Betty Irwin said as local pioneer for women working in the trades, she wants to ensure she is a part of the planning process to guide decisions about what happens in the city and to the city.

There is a very pressing need to wrestle more transfer money from the territorial government when it boasts a $1-billion annual budget but provides the capital city with just $5 million in core funding, newcomer Ranj Pillai told the audience.

Skeeter Miller-Wright said he brings with him a wide range of experience in conciliation and working with a diverse group of people who provide him with the experience necessary to listen and build consensus.

Incumbent Florence Roberts said the last three years have been extremely productive for city council. She told the audience she wants to continue building on that foundation for a community that has given much to her over the last 19 years.

While his two years time in Whitehorse has been relatively brief, Michael Buurman said he and his family have fallen in love with the city.

However, he believes there is plenty of room for improvement in the transit system, which provides evening service only on Fridays, and the city's commitment to environmental sustainability.

Nine-year councillor Dave Austin said his commitment is that city hall remains true.

His time on council has given him the steady hand and experience Whitehorse will need to see it through the challenges of the near future, he added.

The polls open next Thursday at 8 a.m., and close at 8 p.m.

See Friday's Star for profiles of all 14 candidates for mayor and council.