BIDDEFORD — Fifteen of the 21 candidates running for nine City Council seats and the two candidates running for mayor shared some of their views with the public during a debate-like forum at Biddeford High School Thursday.

DiriGo-Getters, a networking group for young professionals in the Biddeford-Saco area, organized the event. Ry Russell, a member of DiriGo- Getters, moderated the debate, asking candidates a number of prepared and citizen-submitted questions and strictly enforcing 20- second response times for council candidates. The mayoral candidates were given 30 seconds to respond to questions or give rebuttals.

The time limits were implemented due to time constraints, DiriGo-Getters said. Even with the limits, the debate went on for about 2 1/2 hours – but still, some of the candidates became visibly annoyed when they were cut off.

Although the candidates for council were at times asked questions specifically about their past experiences or actions, heavily discussed topics among all included collective bargaining for city employees, education, rising levels of heroin abuse, parking and the prospect of raising the minimum wage.

When asked if they would support a hike in the minimum wage in Biddeford, the majority of council candidates objected, conceding that a raise should be considered but on a state or federal level.

“It’s an ineffective way to do it,” Ward 7 Councilor Michael Ready said of a citywide minimum wage increase. “It would put employers here at a disadvantage and force some businesses to close.”

Others, however, including former mayor Joanne Twomey and Doris McAuliffe, who are running for at-large seats on the council, Richard Rhames, who is running for Ward 3 councilor, and Carol Boisjoly, who is running for Ward 5 councilor, indicated that something should be done on the city level to increase wages.

“If we wait for the state government to raise the minimum wage … we’ll wait too long,” said Rhames.

Ward 5 Councilor Bob Mills said it would be “interesting” to discuss the issue on a local level, including discussing what actually defines a viable “living wage.”

Terry Belanger, who is running for Ward 4 councilor, said low wages are not the only problem facing many Biddeford residents and pointed to the need for rent control. “Rents are way too high,” he said.

When asked for their thoughts on the recent contract negotiations between the current council and the city’s public safety and public works employees – which for police and public works employees lasted about nine months and for firefighters are ongoing – the candidates presented split opinions. While most of the incumbents said this year’s negotiations have been difficult, they also pointed to the standard give-and-take that occurs during negotiations between employers and unions.

Several challengers, however, said the city’s initial contract proposal included too many cuts to benefits and sent the wrong message to employees.

Laura Seaver, who is running for at-large councilor, said the offer sent the message to employees that they weren’t valued, and said collective bargaining only works if done with mutual respect. Similarly, Rhames called the initial proposal “insulting” and Twomey said the unions should not have had to “beg” for more generous contracts.

Debra Lauzon, who is running for Ward 6 councilor, said in the future she would like the council to work with the city manager and Human Resources Department to “come to a solution (on the negotiations) quicker.”

In the mayoral debate, incumbent Alan Casavant, who is seeking his third two-year term as Biddeford’s mayor, squared off against business consultant Daniel Parenteau. While the two admitted to sharing “common ground” on some issues – both, for example, said they were opposed to publicly identifying those who haven’t paid their taxes or those who are on welfare – they presented differing opinions on several others, such as the Common Core State Standards Initiative.

Casavant, who taught at Biddeford High School for 35 years, said the concept of common core, described as a standards-based approach to learning, is “problematic” but the school system must do what the state mandates in order to get funding.

Parenteau was more critical of common core. “I think it’s the death knell to the American education system,” he said, adding that as mayor he would strive to make changes on the state level. In response, Casavant said his experience serving on the state Education Committee taught him changes like that are much easier said than done.

The candidates’ opinions were more severely split when they were asked if hiring former city manager John Bubier to work parttime in economic development for $75,000 a year was a smart investment.

While Parenteau said it was not, Casavant said the position was “absolutely needed” to facilitate further economic development, not only in downtown Biddeford but also elsewhere in the city, such as in its business parks.

When asked what the most important issue facing Biddeford is, Parenteau said poverty. He said he has spoken with “scores of people” who are all happy about the revitalization efforts they have seen in downtown Biddeford over the last several years, but they cannot afford to go to the new businesses that have come to Main Street or the former mill buildings.

Earlier in the debate, Parenteau said he believes “a living wage has to be explored” in Biddeford; though he said any increase must be made gradually in increments. Casavant, like many of the candidates for council, said a minimum wage increase has to be dictated by the state so as to protect small businesses from competition that could drive them out of business.

Casavant said the most important issue for him is the need for tax stabilization that strikes a balance between providing the necessary services and keeping taxes manageable for residents. That’s why it is important to continue expanding the tax base by further developing and filling the city’s former mill buildings, he said.

“I want Biddeford to be a destination point, and I think we’ve nudged the shift into that direction,” Casavant said in his closing statements. “If you allow me another two years I can guarantee you that Biddeford will continue to prosper.”

Parenteau, in his closing statements, said Biddeford’s chances of succeeding are “gravely limited” if the focus remains on certain parts of the population. “The only way we’re going to succeed,” he said, “is if everybody can benefit to some degree.”

Biddeford Public Access Director Steve Pulos said the full debate will be available online at www.biddefordmaine.org/video at some point today.

— Staff Writer Angelo J. Verzoni can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or averzoni@journaltribune.com.