Maricopa City Council candidate Bridger Kimball said Saturday that he would donate his council salary to charity in his closing remarks during a candidate debate.

“If elected I will write a check for my first year’s salary (as city councilman) to a local charity,” he said, drawing loud applause from the 100-plus audience.

Kimball is one of four candidates running for three seats in the March 13 primary. Three candidates participated in the political forum in the Maricopa Unified School District governing board room:

• Incumbent Councilman Marvin Brown, who was elected in 2008.

• Leon Potter, who directs the United Way of Pinal County’s tax preparation volunteer program.

• Kimball, who co-owns Caswells Shooting Range in Mesa

The fourth, Rosalin Sanhadja, said she could not attend because she was having an emergency root canal. She moved to Maricopa in 2007 and is a government relations legal assistant.

After the forum, Brown criticized Kimball for playing to the crowd. He said Kimball was grandstanding and makes a lot of money.

“He even bragged about that,” Brown said.

For his part, candidate Leon Potter said he is not accepting any campaign contributions, encouraging anyone who wants to donate to give their money to charity.

“It’s better served that way,” Potter said.

Mayor Anthony Smith, who attended the forum, said council members earn $7,500 a year and the mayor makes $10,000.

The council candidates were in general agreement Saturday about the issues facing Maricopa. They were asked four questions, and they put a question to each other.

All said they would work to change the perception that Maricopa isn’t business friendly, that city staff is viewed as unresponsive to residents, and work to improve the city’s air quality.

Maricopa Monitor Managing Editor Adam Gaub and InMaricopa Associate Editor Christia Gibbons co-moderated the forum. The Maricopa Women in Business provided election decorations and refreshments.

The questions were chosen from ones submitted by the public and staff at the two media outlets.

Asked what they would do to counter the growing public perception that city staff is becoming less and less accessible, Brown answered, “I can’t understand why this perception exists.”

He said city staff give “1,000 percent” daily and that new City Manager Brenda Fischer makes sure staff responds “to even the most ridiculous requests.”

Kimball said if the perception is true, then “that would be something we need to attack right away.”

Potter said he’s always been able to get questions answered quickly. “Staff calls right back.” Council members need to make sure the communication lines are always open between staff and the public, he said.

The candidates were asked how they would manage the time commitment required to serve on the council.

Kimball said while his passion is running his own company, he has made time to serve in volunteer positions.

“I am somewhat used it to from serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission and attending meetings,” he said. “I researched issues and was prepared and would do the same thing on the council.”

Potter said it is “pretty much the same of what I’m doing now.” He said he works at his job, serves on the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce and Maricopa Public Library boards, and coaches soccer.

Brown, who retired in 2006 as director of housing for the Detroit Rescue Mission, said he was asked the same question four years ago.

“It’s not the kind of office you run for the title,” he said. “I’ve missed only four meetings in only four years and I think that’s remarkable.” He said it takes about 15 hours a week to fulfill his duties as a councilman.

On improving the city’s air quality, Potter said it was a personal issue for him because his daughter has asthma. His said he would work to bring in more development and pave more roads to cut down the dust.

Kimball also said more roads need to be paved, and that vacant lots need to be filled to cut down on dust.

Brown said the city bought 68 acres from El Dorado Holdings and moved the cows that contributed to the unpleasant odor spurring residents’ complaints.

Candidates were asked if they would change the agreement the city has to give $40,000 annually to the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce.

Potter, who serves on the chamber board, said he would have to recuse himself if the agreement came up for vote. However, he said he favors the financial support as long as the chamber is moving forward.

Kimball said he supports the city’s public services agreement with the chamber, but in time thinks the city should decrease the amount.

Brown said the chamber has done very well and has a healthy budget. “I’m very proud of what they've done.”

Brown was the first candidate to put a question to each of his opponents.

“What makes Maricopa unique?” he asked.

Kimball said Maricopa, unlike Mesa where he works, has a lot of people living in a small area, but with so many different kinds of people -- farmers, business owners and stay-at-home dads.

Potter answered, “The people in this room, people doing their jobs, people volunteering. I’m blessed to be here.”

Potter asked his fellow candidates: “What does being a leader mean to you?”

Kimball pointed to his service in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he said he was promoted several times. As a business owner, he said, he leads by example. If a floor needs to be mopped, he will grab a mop and start cleaning and then his employees will join him.

Brown said he agreed with Kimball. Brown, who is African-American, said he had to identify with a staff that was mostly white, Jewish and Hungarian. “I dealt with them fairly,” he said. “I dealt with them professionally as a team.”

Kimball asked what three ideas his opponents have to help sustain small businesses.

Potter said three things come into the equation -- education, economic development and lowering the cost of doing business in Maricopa. The city needs to reverse the trend of people going somewhere else to work and take their kids to school.

“It’s hard to shake off negativity,” he said. “It’s a responsibility of each and every one of us to make it happen.”

Brown said the city has purchased 350 acres of land to expand economic development and expanded its economic development efforts to bring in more business.

He said education is important, but the state Legislature has cut funds. While he’s not against charter schools, Brown said too many could decimate the public schools.

“Charters can cherry-pick students,” he said.

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Though a $1-million federal transportation grant was approved in the House, it was voted down in the Senate. He said his commitment to that effort shows his passion for the city.

Potter said he shows his commitment to Maricopa through his community involvement. “I just leave it out there again that I just love this city. The organizations that are there, I’m so proud of everything they do.”

Kimball, who was the last to give closing remarks, said moving to Maricopa in 2003 and buying a home was the most important decision of his life.

“I’m sick and tired of watching small businesses in Maricopa close their doors, I want to see business grow and prosper,” he said, adding that for the past 11 years has run a successful multi-million dollar business.

In a statement read to the audience, Sanhadja said that a few years ago Maricopa had great momentum, but it has slowed down. She said she cares about the city and knows how to get workable solutions.

New Maricopa residents Henry Eslinger and his wife, JoAnn, attended the forum.

The couple moved to the city from North Dakota three months ago to retire and weren’t familiar with the candidates or their stands on the issues.

Eslinger said said his was impressed by all three candidates. “All seem qualified and anxious.”