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photos by JERREY ROBERTS

Mayoral candidate Michael Bardsley, left, and Mayor Clare Higgins are seen during their debate Tuesday at Northampton High School.

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JERREY ROBERTS

Northampton Mayor Clare Higgins speaks during a debate against Michael Bardsley Tuesday at Northampton High School.

NORTHAMPTON - Mayoral candidates Clare Higgins and Michael R. Bardsley squared off in the first of several high-profile debates Tuesday, hammering home campaign themes that pit an incumbent's track record against a challenger's call for change.

The one-time political allies-turned-rivals fielded an array of questions from a three-member panel at Northampton High School and from some 200 or so voters in attendance.

In his opening remarks, Bardsley, a longtime at-large city councilor, made no bones about his efforts to win over the city's undecided voters and, while pressing his message of transparency and inclusiveness in government, sought to distance himself from Higgins' administration.

"In many ways, the future of our city is up to those who remain undecided," Bardsley said. "I am committed to bring change to the way government does business."

Higgins reminded voters that Bardsley has approved every one of her proposed budgets during her 10 years as mayor and probably voted with her "90 percent of the time" on other issues.

"We all know it's a great city," Higgins said. "It doesn't mean we don't have a lot of work to do. I think the councilor is bringing forth some matters of style."

Presented by Valley Free Radio 103.3 FM and Northampton Community Television, Tuesday's debate drew a large audience, the size of which has not been seen in recent mayoral elections. David Pakman, host of the nationally syndicated talk radio and television program "Midweek Politics" moderated the debate, and the League of Women's Voters of the Northampton Area helped present a range of questions from voters.

Among them was one asking candidates to identify a decision they most regretted while governing.

A five-term incumbent, Higgins harkened back to a previous term and said she would had done more in the way of zoning King Street to foster better-planned development.

"I wish we had had a better discussion of developing King Street," Higgins said.

Bardsley cited a far more recent decision, noting he would have reconsidered approving spending $1.2 million to buy two homes around the landfill earlier this year.

"I wish I had taken more time and weighed some of the pros and cons more," he said.

School funding

If there was one subject that continued to resurface during the hour-plus debate, it was funding the city's schools, including maintaining extracurricular activities and programs as well as the off-and-on discussions of closing a neighborhood elementary school.

In answer to one question from a high school student, Higgins spoke matter-of-factly: "I wish I could tell you we won't have to have hard discussions about the schools. I would not be telling you the truth."

The mayor noted that school aid from the state has declined considerably over the years and shows few signs of improving.

"We need to look at the whole tax structure statewide," she said. "It does not work."

Bringing in money

Bardsley said the city can find more creative ways to increase revenues, including improving grant writing and private fundraising. Higgins took issue with Bardsley's call for private fundraising, saying local businesses provide tremendous support to the city already. "What I'm hearing from them is, they're kind of tapped out."

The candidates sparred on economic development issues. Higgins touted her track record in getting development of the former state hospital grounds moving, a tax-increment financing program for businesses that has helped retain and create jobs, and her ongoing efforts to develop adult education and literacy programs at the James House, as well as GED testing.

Bardsley said much more can be done to attract new businesses to Northampton. He described the city's economic development program as "out of focus."

"It's been confused with community development," he said.

If elected mayor, Bardsley said, he would quickly set up budget advisory and economic development committees and aggressively reach out to businesses considering relocating to Northampton.

On the city's proposed landfill expansion, Higgins took a stand, saying she believes it is the city's "best environmental choice" when the current landfill is expected to close in a few years. Without expansion, she said she fears higher trash disposal costs would lead to illegal dumping across the city.

"We are not going to jeopardize the aquifer," she said, in reference to a planned landfill expansion over a recharge area of the Barnes Aquifer. "The health studies, I'm comfortable with."

Bardsley said the many landfill-related public health studies, while not raising a red flag, have raised a "yellow flag."

"I saw areas of concern," said Bardsley, without elaborating on those concerns. "I think our community is very landfill-dependent."

He said the landfill will likely close for a time during a future permitting process and the city should take that time "as an opportunity to retool itself and its attitude towards the disposal of trash."

On the lighter side, one audience member asked the candidates to name one quality each most admires or respects in the other. To that, Bardsley replied that he has always admired Higgins' sense of humor, even before the two entered politics.

Higgins, on the other hand, highlighted Bardsley's organizing skills, calling him "one of the best political organizers we have in the city."

The candidates meet again Friday in a televised debate that airs at 7:30 p.m. on WGBY, the PBS affiliate in Springfield.

Dan Crowley can be reached at dcrowley@gazettenet.com.