"I don't know where the accusation of micro-managing comes from," Billings said. "When you become the mayor, you find out there's not time to micro-manage."

Bailey's baloney comment referred to a Billings flier that shows the city has $65 million in fund balances. Bailey said if that money is truly in reserve, residents should vote against Proposition 1 — a proposed extension of a $6.5 million bond to improve roads in the city.

Billings said he spent hours in the home of Provo resident Newell Johnson, trying to negotiate a purchase price for a proposed road between University Avenue and Canyon Road in north Provo. After 10 years, the city used eminent domain to take the land. The case is now in the courts. Bailey has said negotiations broke down after five minutes, drawing Billings' ire.

Bailey opened with an attack on the management of iProvo, the city's fiber-optic telecommunications project, but Billings said the city has more than 3,700 subscribers. The administration released a press release about the increase earlier in the day. City projections indicate 10,000 subscribers are needed for the project to succeed. Construction on half of the project is complete, and Billings has predicted 4,000 subscribers by Thanksgiving.

Billings launched his campaign Web site in the past few days, www.lewisbillings.com. Bailey's site is www.davebailey2005.com.

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E-mail: twalch@desnews.com