The final round of this week's debates sponsored by the San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce hosting a forum for candidates of the city's 5th Ward. The district is currently represented by first-term member Chas Kelley. In November 2007, Kelley is being challenged by three opponents.

Chas Kelley, along with his challengers Rick Avila, Randy Lee and Carolyn Tillman, all sat at San Bernardino City Hall's council dais to address residents' concerns and present their vision and agenda.

Chas Kelley discussed, at great length, his history of holding "town hall-style" constituent meetings where residents could offer comments on the city's direction. Kelley further elaborated on his record of establishing neighborhood parks and his focus on establishing a community center in his constituency. he stated he has already secured $6 million towards that end.

Candidate Rick Avila, an area little league president and small businessman, declared that his past experience as a 2005 candidate for mayor of San Bernardino "gave (him) the drive for public service." Avila criticized the incumbent for supposedly being an absentee representative. Avila repeatedly mentioned combating illegal graffiti as a significant issue, along with the overall theme of fighting crime in the city with more police officers.

Area bar owner Randy Lee told the forum that he is a lifelong San Bernardino resident, having been educated in local schools and colleges. In addition to being the proprietor of a bar and grill called the Rusty Nickel, Lee also works for a local supermarket chain as a branch manager. Lee called for more police officers, a citywide effort to "combat blight," and a revitalization of the city's downtown core.

Carolyn Tillman declared that now "is her season to pride public service." What motivates Tillman to run, according to the candidate, is a deep "love for San Bernardino" and a desire to ensure that the city is positioned as being "business-friendly" in order to attract good-paying jobs. Carolyn Tillman works as a special assisstant to San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Herb Fischer.

On at-large elections for San Bernardino city council elections, three candidates (Avila, Kelley, Lee) strongly support the present system of district representation. Carolyn Tillman delivered a rather long and winded answer to the simple question that left a viewer with no clear indication of how she feels on this issue or would vote on the matter.

Kelley lambasted his opponents for offering critical analysis of his term in office and for not participating in any of his numerous town hall meetings. Lee and Tillman stayed above the fray and did not provide any barbs directed at any of their their opponents. Avila, in criticizing incumbent Chas Kelley, declared that change has not happened in Ward Five and that "four years is more than enough time."

All candidates agreed that attracting jobs and halting the city's high crime rate were important priorities, and each offered to work on solutions as a city councilmember.

ANALYSIS:

Chas Kelley performed the best, and his presentation most likely will be well-received from voters . With his clear delivery and well-defended presentation of his council record, the incumbent was clearly in command here. Addressing each question with articulate statements and providing a solid vision for the future, Kelley spoke with authority and was visibly the best prepared for the forum. Appearing humble, yet stern, Chas Kelley seemed completely in tune with the needs of his constituency in a manner that his opponents did not.

Rick Avila, despite being cheered on by family and several supporters in the audience of nearly 75 people, was the least-prepared of the forum. Speaking in often stuttered speech, he appeared flustered and unable to answer many questions being posed to him. Some of his responses made no sense whatsoever, such as Avila's constitutionally questionable call for a federalization of graffiti offenses and a sentence of 25 years to life for misdemeanor vandalism. While such rhetoric may have value in a constituency frustrated by juvenile crime, the Avila solution is clearly unworkable, especially in light of the state's prison overcrowding crisis.

When Kelley challenged Avila on city budget matters (Avila supports eliminating the city's utility tax and lowering development impact fees), Rick Avila provided no solutions or advice on paying for increased police department staffing of sworn officers or enhanced code enforcement.

Of all candidates running this election for all contested city council seats, Rick Avila appears to be the least prepared and devoid of real solutions to numerous problems facing the city. Given that Avila had ample time to prepare remarks for these questions, his poor performance and lack of clarity was downright stunning.

Carolyn Tillman delivered passionate responses to many questions. Relying more on anecdotal stories, biblical quotations to relate to the current state of San Bernardino, and often long-winded answers, Tillman appears ready to serve, but there would likely be a steep learning curve for the first-time candidate. Carolyn Tillman, though, with her status as an education professional and strong educational background, has emerged as Kelley's most visionary challenger, despite last evening's somewhat shaky debate performance.

Randy Lee was the district's biggest surprise. For a neophyte candidate, Lee provided sharp and direct answers to many - if not all - questions posed to him. On the crime question, the bar owner related a a harrowing personal story in which an unruly tavern patron shot him and left him for dead in his North San Bernardino drinking establishment. Like his better politically-connected opponents, Lee offered a future for the city in which San Bernardino is free of crime, business-friendly, and would crack down on illegal parolee residences. The organizational strength of his opponents may prevent Lee from performing well this election, but Randy Lee acquitted himself very well in this forum.