"This is just a political attack by Rocky against people who disagree with him," Buhler said. "He's attacked former staff members. He's attacked members of the council. People are tired of his verbal bullying. They want to see more civility and humanity from the person who holds this office."

Buhler said he can refute Anderson's claims of "lying" point by point. About the NAC move, Buhler said: "We need a mayor to be on top of these things, not come in at the last minute. The fact is, the city lost hundreds of good-paying jobs."

In an e-mail exchange between the two men earlier this week, Anderson said it was "galling to hear you (Buhler) make such reckless, false statements." Buhler replied he had "good sources outside of the city" that confirmed his statements that Anderson's action on the NAC was "too little and mostly far too late." Anderson said the use of unnamed sources "is reprehensible — but not surprising."

"Political differences are one thing," Anderson wrote to the chamber, which sponsored a debate in which the mayor claims Buhler failed to tell the truth about several issues. "Misrepresentations to the public are something else."

Anderson closes his letter saying: "Please demand that candidates tell you the truth — and when they don't, let them know they won't have your vote."

Anderson said he couldn't understand how Buhler could say he didn't do everything possible about the NAC move, when Buhler, as a member of the City Council, voted to change a city ordinance, in a hurried-up-fashion, in an attempt to keep the newspapers' production facilities in the city.

Exactly, said Buhler, the hasty ordinance was necessary because Anderson was behind the curve.

"These statements are false and misleading," said Anderson, citing conversations he had with Dean Singleton, president of MediaNews, the Tribune's publisher. Anderson also quotes a former NAC boss as saying Anderson did all that was asked of him.

Additionally, Anderson said, it is also false that he didn't do all he could to change city ordinances allowing more than two bars on a city block. For years Anderson has promoted it as a way to attract more tourists and visitors to downtown on weekends and in evening hours.

In one debate, Buhler said in eight years Anderson has never sent the City Council any proposed zoning changes for bar placement. Anderson "has talked a lot about it," Buhler is quoted in one debate. "I said six years ago, if he did (send something to the council), I'd be willing to take a look at it. I'm still waiting." Buhler reiterated that stand Wednesday. "He won't send us a proposal."

Anderson said it is the City Council's responsibility to set city policy, the mayor's job to implement it. Anderson said he has repeatedly made it clear the city's bar ordinance needs to be changed, yet the council does nothing.

Anderson — as he did in his last re-election campaign four years ago — accused the City Council, and Buhler specifically, of not pursuing the bar zoning change because LDS Church leaders opposed the change. The accusation is that Buhler, who is LDS, didn't pursue programs that church leaders might oppose and wouldn't do so as mayor.

"A previous council (which included Mr. Buhler) voted down" a bar rezoning proposal, Anderson said.

Buhler said he did call church leaders after he had heard a rumor that they did not oppose the bar zoning change. "I don't apologize for that. I try to call all sides of an issue. I want to listen to all; I ask their opinion, not their permission."

Buhler said if he's able to survive the Sept. 11 primary, "I suppose you will hear a lot more from Rocky in the final campaign. This attacking is his style — tired as it is."

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E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com