The 2003 candidates for Muncie mayor -- two-term incumbent Dan Canan and firefighter and former Democrat-committee chairman Dennis Tyler -- were put in the hot seats at a debate Thursday in the auditorium of Muncie City Hall.
In front of about 120 people, Canan emphasized the progress he's made in the past eight years as mayor, while Tyler questioned the motives and truths behind the administration.
"The one thing I am never going to do is lie to you," Tyler said.
Canan said he's developed downtown and improved Muncie's infrastructure.
Canan also said he has forged strong ties with the university by working with students and faculty.
"The Brownell administration and the Canan administration get along very well," Canan said.
Tyler, however, said much work still needs to be done.
"Our infrastructure is deteriorating rapidly, and if you look out there in that Ball State community, it's a mess in areas, and it's our fault," he said.
Tyler stressed the need to increase employment, lower taxes and retain population. Delaware County has lost over 7,000 jobs and 4,000 residents since his opponent took office, Tyler said.
"We cannot continue to operate this way," Tyler said. "We need jobs ... I'll get up, and I'll go to work, and I will do whatever it takes to promote Muncie and bring jobs back to this community to create a tax base that will help us control our tax rates."
After the debate, Tyler added that he loves Muncie and is worried to death about it.
Canan, however, said his administration has already begun to tackle the problems that worry Tyler.
"We faced head on the issue of the financials of the city ... We faced the issue of the infrastructure," Canan said. "We addressed them, and we're moving forward. We faced the issue of our downtown."
Although Canan said more work should be done, he thinks his administration deserves credit for what it has accomplished.
"This administration has done a good job, I think, of delivering services, whether it's picking your trash up, whether it's the firefighters coming to your house, whether it's the First Response program, (or) whether it's the policemen having the tools they need," he said.
"Mayor Canan's right," Tyler responded. "We have a great university here. We have a great hospital here. We have a nice downtown, but if anybody thinks that that is what's going to make the city thrive and survive, that is not going to happen."
The debate sparked junior Emily Radecki's interest to take part in the election.
"I thought it was interesting to hear both Tyler's and Canan's viewpoints," Radecki said. "I've never voted before, but now this has kind of pushed me into having an interest," Radecki said.
Radecki also said she was unfamiliar with some of the issues because she is not as active in the Muncie community as she is the Ball State community.
"They really touched on most issues," Ball State alumnus Tommy Rector said. "Something that really caught my interest is that Tyler, being a Democrat, he was talking a lot more conservative issues."
Rector, who is running for city councilman as a Republican, said his vote rests with Canan.
The mayoral election will be held on Nov. 4.
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