Photo by Skip Lawrence Mayoral candidates Randy McClement, left, and Jason Judd debate Tuesday evening at Frederick Community College.

Republican Randy McClement and Democrat Jason Judd spent nearly 40 minutes in a back-and-forth exchange during the second half of the event that attracted about 150 people to Frederick Community College's Jack B. Kussmaul Theater.

The Frederick News-Post, the League of Women Voters, the college and WFMD radio sponsored the event.

"How would you set your organization?" asked McClement, 53.

McClement, owner of a downtown bagel shop, had said earlier that setting his chain of command would be one of his first priorities.

"I think you put the cart before the horse," responded Judd, 37. "I'm going to make sure it's clear what the city's goals are. ... I think that comes first before you start dropping names in an organizational chart."

Judd, an executive at the Service Employees International Union, said economic development would be a priority that would be reflected in his reorganization of city government. Earlier, he said he would bring many senior staff together for his first meeting.

McClement's plan would establish a new city administrator position to handle day-to-day tasks of the city with three other current senior staff reporting directly to the mayor -- down from the six that report to the current mayor.

"I've made it very clear lowering the number of direct reports makes it possible to be an advocate for the city," he said. "In my opinion you should be forthcoming how your Cabinet should look."

Judd stressed his plans to create a jobs incubator on the city's east side and asked McClement his plan for economic development.

McClement said the incubator was a concept that would not address the millions of dollars the city faces in budget shortfalls next year.

"It is not our job as a government to create a job," he said. "What I would do is make it easier for or more efficient for businesses to come here."

McClement said he would also pursue a better partnership with Fort Detrick, the largest employer in the area.

Judd said his incubator concept represents what the government can do to create jobs by actively investing rather than just making the process easier, which he said he would also pursue.

"I think the city is going to have to make investments," he said.

They agreed that officials will have to review the city's salary and benefits structure as a way to deal with the budget shortfall. Neither ruled out the possibility of layoffs and furloughs.

McClement, who has owned his business for 10 years, questioned Judd on his time in Frederick and what qualified him to seek the office of mayor after moving to the city two years ago.

Judd, who grew up near Frederick and attended Gov. Thomas Johnson High School, moved here from Takoma Park and before that worked domestically and internationally as a labor organizer.

"I deal in real time, not theory," said McClement, who pointed to his business and involvement in the community. "My experience directly relates to being the mayor of Frederick ."

Judd, who also highlighted his community involvement, said his work as a community organizer in cities much larger than Frederick and leadership of issues campaigns on the state and national levels is experience directly relevant to the mayor's office.

"I don't think this is a contest over the number of hours you logged or I logged in city meetings, it's a contest of skills," he said.

The city will hold its general election for mayor and aldermen Tuesday.