Waukesha — Mayor Larry Nelson and challenger Jeff Scrima sparred Tuesday night over issues ranging from the mayor's salary to public spending to economic development, but it was the future water source that brought the most questions in a mayoral forum sponsored by the Waukesha County Chamber of Commerce.
Citing years of study and dozens of experts who point to Lake Michigan water as the best source, Nelson accused Scrima of "the worst kind of politics" that used scare tactics and fear to campaign against the plan recommended by the Waukesha Water Utility Commission and Nelson.
Yet Scrima said Nelson is pushing for Milwaukee water because "he's been an advocate of becoming one with Milwaukee from day one." He said Waukesha has plenty of water and can take its time in finding the right solution - something he considers to be a combination of the Fox River, quarries and maybe shallow and deep wells.
Little new ground was uncovered on the water issue, which has been extensively discussed in the lead-up to the April 6 election. However, Nelson accused Scrima of flip-flopping because of what Nelson saw as backpedaling on a firm "no" to any lake water from Milwaukee.
Scrima said there was nothing wrong with moving ahead in the Lake Michigan approval process as long as no strings were attached and as long as all costs were known up front.
Nelson said it simply wasn't true that Waukesha would lose its independence in a water deal with Milwaukee because "we will never negotiate a contract that is not in the city's best interest." Waukesha is under a court deadline to rid its water of radium by 2018.
Scrima said Nelson's advocacy has put Waukesha in a terrible negotiating position. Nelson asked how Scrima could possibly negotiate any kind of deal when he's bashed Milwaukee throughout the campaign.
Before an audience of about 150, the two also debated the nature of economic development in the city.
Nelson provided a long list of new development in the city in the past years, from the downtown Clarke Hotel to the Shoppes of Fox River on the south side to five health care facilities. He said business leaders had commended the city on how well it worked in partnership with the private sector.
Nelson also said he was going to "make news" by announcing that the city is close to unveiling a tax incremental financing plan with a company that will start by adding 100 skilled manufacturing jobs. He said he couldn't reveal the name yet because legal details are pending.
Scrima said his background as a real estate broker and developer would bring fresh ideas, while old leaders were wedded to old ideas. He called on the city to loosen zoning regulations, waive fees and use inventive ideas to reach out to investors that would bring more sustaining full-time manufacturing jobs.
Nelson said taxpayers would pick up the cost of Scrima's ideas, such as garbage collection for condo owners and waived fees, and he said the mayor doesn't have the power to do some of the things Scrima wants to do.
On the mayor's salary, Scrima asked Nelson directly how he could justify a $70,000 salary, "five-star benefits" and a 12.8% pay increase ahead. Scrima has said he would work full time and pay half his salary back.
Nelson said he took a pay cut when he became mayor. He formerly was a 30-year teacher who also held a part-time teachers union post and was an alderman. He said his was the only city salary frozen for five years, counting 2010, and that he pays expenses such as his own cell phone and employee recognition and birthday coffees out of his own pocket.
He said he's worked 10-hour days for the past four years and makes less than some department heads. He said the council-set pay is a reflection on what a city thinks of its mayor.