6 Candidates for Mayor Joust on TV : Oxnard: The incumbent and a councilwoman defend their records against shouted allegations, pointed fingers and interruptions.

The discussion grew so animated that producers at KADY-TV extended the event from 30 minutes to 60 minutes.

In attendance at the mayoral forum were Oxnard Mayor Nao Takasugi and challengers Scott Bollinger, a private investor; John Cobian, who operates an interpreting service; Deborah DeMoss, a homemaker; Councilwoman Dorothy Maron; and John Soria, who runs a small consulting company with his wife.

Debate began even before the television cameras were turned on. Takasugi was 45 minutes late, and Cobian and Bollinger told the television staff that the forum should begin without the mayor. The staff decided to wait for Takasugi, who is vying for his fifth term as mayor.

Cobian then objected to the seating arrangement, which placed Takasugi next to the American flag.

During most of the forum, Takasugi and Maron defended their records while the other four candidates pointed fingers, shouted allegations and interrupted one another.

Takasugi, who remained cool and reserved, began the discussion by describing Oxnard’s long-term financial future as “rosy and optimistic.”

Soria attacked first by accusing the mayor of lying to the public. He said the city’s financial future is a fiasco and said if elected he would implement the recommendations made in an extensive management audit completed in June.

In July, the City Council used onetime financial windfalls to avoid a $2.8-million deficit. The city staff is studying the audit.

DeMoss said the city should have put off construction of a new library next to City Hall until Oxnard is on a stronger financial footing. Takasugi said the library will be financed entirely with developers’ fees.

Bollinger said the city’s finances are in ruin because of “corruption, cover-ups and kickbacks” in City Hall. When moderator John Huddy repeatedly asked Bollinger to substantiate his allegations, Bollinger said he would prefer to have incumbents answer for themselves.

Takasugi and Maron did not respond to Bollinger’s allegations.

Maron, however, said she would end sweetheart deals for developers and would try to attract businesses that provide good employment opportunities. “We need careers, not just jobs,” said Maron, who has been on the council for 10 years.

Each candidate agreed that Oxnard needs to develop more low-income housing. Takasugi and Maron were accused of failing to take action to address the problem.

Cobian accused the City Council of failing to support the construction of low-income housing for the city’s working-class Latinos, who represent about half of Oxnard’s population.

“The city’s General Plan is designed to get rid of the poor,” Cobian said.

He said he would place a moratorium on all development until the city addresses the need for low-income housing.

“Who in the heck is going to buy a house in the $200,000-to-$300,000 bracket?” DeMoss asked.

Soria suggested that the city help develop low-income housing through a bond measure. “If we can do it for the developers and the special interests, we can do it for the people of this city,” he said.

Takasugi acknowledged that the city has concentrated on developing housing for the city’s corporate executives, but he said the city is now going to require developers to develop more low-income housing.

In response to a question from the moderator, every candidate except Bollinger said they support replacing the at-large electoral system with one that allows election of representatives to the council from voters’ neighborhoods. Voting-rights advocates say this system, known as a single-member district system, gives minorities more political power.

In an interview later, Bollinger said he would object to letting the council implement a single-member district system but supports allowing the voters to decide the issue.

The forum was sponsored by the Ventura County League of Women Voters. The League said it will sponsor another debate later this month but said it will not endorse any candidates.