ST. GEORGE — Political fires are hard to put out, especially if they're burning within you, said St. George Mayor Dan McArthur, who is running for a fourth term in office.

"I still have fire in the belly, and that's what drives me," McArthur said during a Wednesday evening debate with challenger Jacquie Capon, his second of the day. "If my family wasn't behind me, and they are, then I wouldn't be doing this."

Capon, 71, said her decision to enter the race was an easy one.

"I have no agenda, except for the people of St. George," said Capon, who owns a historic bed and breakfast inn in downtown St. George. "I'm very concerned about the apathy here. Mayor McArthur has been in office a long time. Look up at the 'D' on the hill. Yes, it stands for Dixie, but it also stands for denial. We have a problem here."

Capon and McArthur squared off in debates before a meeting of the St. George Area Chamber of Commerce and on KCSG-TV with the Deseret Morning News.

Among the issues discussed were the districting initiative, code enforcement, traffic congestion, illegal immigration, benefits to same-sex couples, property prices and the lack of affordable housing.

McArthur said he opposed the idea of breaking the City Council into separate districts.

"I see districting as making mini-mayors over several areas of the city," he said. "Those five areas would compete with each other and it would be very contentious."

Capon said districting made sense to her.

"I support it wholeheartedly," she said. "It's in federal, state and some county government, and I believe it is representational."

Both candidates said the city's status as the nation's second fastest-growing city is causing some real headaches.

"One of the biggest concerns I have is that people turn away every day because of the cost of housing," Capon said. "We need incentives for builders and smaller lots. New business could have housing on top of their building. It would work wonders. We could use a 5-foot setback and get to know our neighbors. I'm concerned that we're losing people at all levels of service because of this problem."

McArthur said the city is looking at some creative solutions.

"Maybe we'll have density incentives, maybe we'll put in criteria for first-time buyers where first they buy the land from us and then get a builder," he said. "We're talking to developers and looking at maybe waiving certain impact fees."

The two candidates agreed that St. George should not provide benefits to same-sex couples.