In an election eve opportunity to get their campaign messages out to Orem voters, mayoral candidates Philip Hornberger and incumbent Jerry C. Washburn sparred verbally in a public debate Monday afternoon in the Ragan Theater at Utah Valley University.

Though the candidates espoused similar beliefs on some of the issues facing the city and on the vision of Orem's municipal government, Hornberger and Washburn disagreed on several points, including city tax incentives to private businesses and the Midtown Village mixed used development.

Hornberger criticized the city's decision to extend $750,000 in performance-based tax breaks to bring a Mazda automotive dealership to replace the vacancy on University Parkway. He doesn't believe in giving cash incentives to private business, and said the city did too little to keep a Hyundai dealership from moving to Lindon. He said at least one other dealership has approached him about getting a similar type of deal that Mazda received.

"To me, it creates an unlevel playing field," Hornberger said. "We could have worked with them [Hyundai]."

Washburn said the Mazda dealership receives none of the tax breaks until it has proven itself through specific performance- and time-based criteria. He said the city did everything it could to encourage the Hyundai dealership to stay, but the impasse between the two amounted to a zoning issue.

"We have not used tax benefits to attract businesses," Washburn said. "The Mazda dealership was a one-time deal."

He said the city has had success in attracting merchants to Orem because it doesn't charge some of the start-up fees required by other cities, and it has created the Commission for Economic Development in Orem to help incubate new business. Through CEDO, the city has helped bring in one business that employs 3,000, "Jobs that weren't there just a few years ago," he said.

Hornberger called for greater fiscal responsibility saying, that the city has approved too many projects that rely on bonds, resulting in an uncomfortable level of debt. He said many amenities that the city has labeled as needs will end up being passed on as burdens to future generations. The city needs to rely more on long-term financial planning and save up for the projects it deems high-priority rather than financing them.

"I want to see the city get out of debt and come up with creative ways to save money," Hornberger said, adding that offering more internships to UVU students would be a way to help keep talent from the university in Orem while reducing the city's costs.

Washburn said some investments, such as the city's bonding for street lights, has helped reduce crime. He said the city only finances amenities that are in demand, can't be paid for in cash, and ones that, if the city had waited, would have ended up with a much higher total price tag.

"Like buying a home, it's a good investment," Washburn said.

Hornberger said the city should set term limits to encourage more citizens to get more involved in participating in Orem community affairs. He touted his youth, business savvy, and looking for creative ways to improve the city.

"That's one of the best parts of me. I'm energetic, I'm young, I go to shop here, I go to the gym here, I rollerblade in Orem, I love this community," he said.

In contrast, Washburn touted his years of experience in city government and in local business as assets of a candidate who knows how things work and know how to get things done. Over those years, he has formed relationships with community members and organizations and has provided Orem with effective leadership. He said city government is a different animal than state or federal government and the choice to re-elect or vote leaders out of office should remain in the hands of voters.

Both candidates expressed support for Orem public safety and fighting crime and illegal gang activity. Hornberger said the city needs to give Orem police officers the tools such as GPS devices to combat robberies and burglaries. Washburn said the key to crime prevention is through educating families and children.

Hornberger advocated the development of a trails system in Orem to benefit residents and the UVU community that would give residents options besides jumping behind the wheel of a car.

Washburn said transportation, particularly around the UVU campus and area neighborhoods, is a crucial issue for which the city has spent $2 million in unbonded improvements to provide residents with options.

Monday's debate was hosted by the UVU Student Association, and moderated by UVU Review editor-in-chief Jennie Nichols, editor-at-large David Iba, and Daily Herald editorial page editor Jim Tynen.

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