The seven candidates for four Bowling Green city commission seats offered similar answers on most points Tuesday night when quizzed on their policies at a televised forum sponsored by Insight Communications, WBKO-TV and the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce.

Incumbents Brian “Slim” Nash, Joe Denning and Bruce Wilkerson, and challengers Robin Baldwin, Catherine Hamilton, Bill Carter and Mark Bradford filled a long table on the stage of Bowling Green Junior High School, as mayoral candidates Elaine Walker and Brian Strow did at a similar forum Thursday.

The lead-off question for commissioners was what they believe to be the biggest issue the city faces, and what their response would be. Five of the seven cited the need for continued attraction of well-paying jobs, in part because a tax on those jobs provides a majority of the city budget.

Baldwin said many people are worried that the baseball stadium now under construction will require more city money in tight budget times, but that she wouldn’t vote for any new taxes. Bradford said he’s concerned about congestion on Scottsville Road, but thinks downtown redevelopment would shift traffic away from there.

On how to deal with traffic problems, Baldwin said various traffic-calming devices should help neighborhoods, but to deal with Scottsville Road congestion a new bypass may be needed.

Hamilton urged careful prioritization of new road projects, and said the developing Greenways trail system will help.

Carter said the city needs to finish projects such as the Shive Lane extension and Old Morgantown Road improvements, while Denning noted that many major roads - like Scottsville Road - are under state control. The city can coordinate with the state on those problems, but can’t directly control them, he said.

Bradford said he’d like to see construction of a new shopping mall on Louisville Road, and a new Barren River bridge at Ewing Ford.

Wilkerson and Nash both called for further public-private partnerships on road projects and coordination with the state through the Metropolitan Planning Association.

Regarding sidewalk and trail construction, most candidates approved of the city’s greatly increased spending on new sidewalks over the past two years. Bradford said the narrow Smallhouse Road should be improved and given sidewalks; Baldwin pushed for more bike lanes.

All candidates said they could work amiably with whoever else is elected, even if they disagree strongly on policy.

Joe Denning said developers first told the city they could fund ongoing downtown redevelopment efforts without direct infusions of city money, but less than a year later said they needed $25 million in city bonds to start work on the minor-league baseball stadium. He will oppose any future city obligations for the downtown district, he said.

Bradford said he favors the redevelopment effort and would like to see it extended across the railroad tracks to build apartments. Bowling Green Municipal Utilities headquarters could move into the former Bowling Green Junior High School building, which has been partially renovated into apartments, he said.

Wilkerson said he also disliked the $25 million city infusion, but since the project is under way, commissioners need to make sure it succeeds. Nash said he backs the redevelopment district since it has the hope of keeping millions in state tax money here, to pay off the redevelopment bonds.

Baldwin, however, said she’s concerned that the flagging national economy will keep new development out.

“The only thing I can see is, the taxpayers will lose,” she said.

Hamilton echoed Wilkerson in saying the project needs to be finished since it’s already under way, while Carter said the city should proceed cautiously without promising any more money.

Finally, asked how the city can save money while providing good services, Bradford said the city is doing much “non-essential spending” but didn’t offer specifics.

Wilkerson said city staff expected the budget would tighten eventually, and planned for that. He won’t skimp on funding police, fire or Public Works, he said.

Nash said City Manager Kevin DeFebbo has done well cutting the budget, but he’d like to see more effort to improve city energy efficiency.

“Stop spending money where it doesn’t need to be going,” Baldwin said, also without specifics.

Hamilton matched Wilkerson in stressing commitment to funding police and firefighters. Carter said city departments should get together and find their own ways to work more cheaply.

Denning said the city is doing well by staying within its set budget, but shouldn’t take on future financial obligations beyond basic police, fire and Public Works.