New London — Sixteen of the 17 candidates for City Council shared the stage Tuesday for a debate on topics ranging from thoughts on increased funding to the schools to ideas on how charter revisions might improve the relationship between the council and mayor.

The 90-minute debate left some candidates wanting for more than the 60 seconds allowed for answers but gave voters a glimpse on where some stood on key issues.

The debate was held at the New London Science & Technology Magnet High School and sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Southeastern Connecticut, the New London Neighborhood Alliance, New London Parent Advocates and the New London NAACP.

It is being aired on local cable public access. 

Moderator Judy Dolphin broke up the candidates into four blocks, mixing the party affiliations and asking different questions for each group. Candidates were also allowed 30-second rebuttals.

Topics like economic development brought a range of ideas.

Democrat Efrain Dominguez said “a city is only as strong as its businesses,” and encouraged a way to find incentives, such as federal grants, to help fill empty downtown spaces.

Republican Keith Robbins said, “the first rule of economic development is keep what you have.”

He said stabilization of the tax rate would help new businesses come in and existing businesses expand.

“Everybody knows there will be an increase. Costs go up, but you can’t have considerable cost increases on a regular basis and expect businesses to stay in a community,” Robbins said.

Republican Katherine Goulart suggesting capitalizing on the city’s waterfront, drawing in tourists and perhaps attracting filmmakers to shoot in the city.

Green Party candidate Tim Hanser, the former public works director, argued for basic improvements to streets and sidewalks.

“How can you expect a business owner to invest in his property when it floods every time it rains,” He said. “They’re not going to stick around.”

When asked about possible charter revisions to improve the relationship between the council and the mayor, Democrat John Satti said previous revisions to allow a strong mayor form of government were rushed and the mayor wields too much power when it comes to things like entering into and funding contracts the City Council opposes.

Green Party candidate Ronna Stuller including some level of district representation by city councilors, like they do in other cities, could be an area to review.

When it comes to expanding the role of the police community relations committee, which reviews investigations into complaints against police, many of the candidates said they would be hesitant to take on too large of a role.

Erica Richardson, a former member, however, said the committee now is essentially “rubber stamping” investigations with no real power to even make suggestions to police.

She said she would be in favor of a dialogue to ensure to residents that by the time a committee reviews an investigation, “everything’s not a done deal.”

Others questions touched on the costs of lawsuits by city employees, the relationship of police and the schools, engagement with the Latino community and increases to the public works budget.

Voters at the Nov. 3 municipal election will choose seven members for the council.

Democrats mostly called for a united front while the Republicans, Green Party and petitioning candidates asked voters to look to the person and not the party in this predominately Democratic city.

Petitioning candidate Marie Friess-McSparran did not attend Tuesday’s event due to an illness.

For the seven-member City Council, five incumbents are competing for votes against 12 challengers.

The incumbent City Council members are Democrats Efrain Dominguez, Anthony Nolan, Erica Richardson, Michael Tranchida and Republican Martin Olsen.

Challengers for a seat on the council are Republicans Dennis Downing, Timothy Ryan, Katherine Goulart, Keith Robbins and Thomas Wise; petitioning candidates Marie Friess-McSparran and John Russell; Green Party candidates Timothy Hanser and Ronna Stuller; and Democrats Martha Marx, John Satti and Donald Venditto.

g.smith@theday.com

Twitter:@SmittyDay