All four Chaska mayoral candidates appeared for the first and last time together Tuesday night, before voters head to the polls on Jan. 19.

A healthy-sized crowd filled the Chaska Community Center’s Community Room for the 90-minute candidate forum, sponsored by the Eastern Carver County League of Women Voters. They listened as mayoral hopefuls discussed everything from city spending and housing to parking and the sign ordinance.

Many questions focused on the economy and how Chaska’s next mayor would help the city weather the downturn.

In one of the opening questions, the candidates were asked how the city should adjust to the current housing market. Doug Williams, in a rare appearance, was the first to answer, pushing for the reduction of “bloated” city departments.

“The way we grew, we just have to downsize our growth in departments,” he said. “Best thing I can say – just slim down.”

Mark Windschitl focused on more careful spending, saying, “Everything we do, we have to be wiser and smarter.”

“We need to continue to look at our value of having a well-rounded housing stock,” said Jay Rohe. “We need to make sure our workers can live and work in Chaska.

“I think we’ll come out of this even stronger than we have in the past,” he added.

Bob Snyder said the city needs to watch its spending. He echoed comments made earlier by Windschitl about money being spent “foolishly on elections.”

“For the housing that we are building, we do need to build for what the people need and now what somebody thinks we need,” he said. “As a community, we should build what we want.”

When asked how to maintain city services and Chaska’s tax rate in tough times, Rohe noted that the council had already made moves to increase the tax levy in addition to utility rates.

“I think those big hits have already been taken,” he said. “We just have to manage them.”

Snyder advocated for bringing in new businesses to contribute to the city’s tax base. “Bring in mom and pop businesses,” he said. “They’ll be hiring local people.”

Windschitl answered that the focus needs to be keeping the city’s infrastructure in good shape. He commented that future additions of the 212 Medical Center, Michael Foods and companies locating in the BioTech Center are all “good things that will keep our tax base low but keep services up.

“Overall Chaska is still sitting in good shape,” he said.

Williams stuck to his plan to slash city positions that were added “in good times.”

“We gotta think about doing that,” he said. “Grin and bear it.”

Over the course of the forum, Williams took a number of shots at current and past city councils, as well as fellow candidate Rohe. But he lit up when asked a question about whether or not the city can afford to maintain its own police department.

“Whoever asked this question is after my heart,” he said. “This is one of my beefs about Chaska.

“I think we can get by with 10 [police officers],” he continued. “With three secretaries and that head bald guy – whoever he is – Scott Knight. That should be enough for Chaska.”

Both Rohe and Snyder agreed that Chaska needed its own police department.

“I solidly am 100 percent behind the department,” said Rohe. “I think they bring identity… they’re a great asset.”

Windschitl didn’t lean one way or another, but noted that it’s an issue that “needs to be studied.”

“We should see if there can be some joint policing with the county,” he said.

-Mollee Francisco, staff writer