Kenosha---The two candidates for mayor sparred over a number of issues at a debate Thursday night in which tempers rose and the moderator struggled to control.
The 45-minute forum between former Mayor John Antaramian and Ald. Bob Johnson--produced by WGTD and Kenosha Community Media at Gateway Technical College--drew an overflow crowd.
The first major issue of contention was Johnson continuing to insist that Antaramian had "broken the law" by serving on a state brown field advisory panel while consulting for the city on the Chrysler engine plant property.
Earlier in the day, Kenosha County District Attorney Bob Zapf cleared Antaramian of any wrongdoing, an opinion Johnson maintained was driven by Zapf's "insider" status. Johnson claimed that he had a contrary legal opinion on the matter from the Dane County District Attorney, although he couldn't remember his name.
When Johnson continued to attack Zapf, moderator Len Iaquinta cut him off because Zapf wasn't there to defend himself. When Antaramian implied that he might take legal action against Johnson for continuing to insist that he acted improperly, Johnson responded saying "I'm not going to allow you to intimidate me into silence."
"Oh stop it," Antaramian snapped. "You have been intimidating everybody and everyone who disagrees with you."
On the issues, Johnson accused Antaramian of doubling property taxes during his tenure, something Antaramian said was ludicrous, given tight state spending caps.
Antaramian admitted to increasing capital borrowing to fund the development of a pair of industrial parks and Kenosha HarborPark. but said those expenditures were "investments" in Kenosha's future.
The mayoral debate Thursday night topped a card that included candidates for city council and county board. All three forums will be available online later Friday. In addition, video versions will be available on Kenosha Community Media's You Tube and Time Warner channels.
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