When mediator Rod Decker asked the candidates what they think is the "dumbest thing" the county is doing, development issues were the main concern. In fact, development became the overriding theme of the debate, held at the Marriott Downtown and sponsored by the Salt Lake County Bar.

Democratic candidate Peter Corroon said there is a need for a master plan that would redefine what areas of the county should and should not be developed.

Republican incumbent Nancy Workman said property rights issues restrict the county from interfering in certain cases. In addition, she said she refuses to believe the county is doing anything "dumb."

Independent Merrill Cook said too many developers have too much say in countywide development decisions. He said financial contributions should not warrant decisions.

The three expounded on their differing plans of how to deal with development and growth, both physical and economic, in the Salt Lake Valley.

When asked whether county government was earning its keep in providing for the several cities within, Workman and Corroon defended the organization, which provides several services that city governments don't. Cook said a consolidated form of municipal government would better serve the people.

"It's outrageous for taxpayers to pay for duplicative services within economic developments," Cook said.

Other issues discussed during the hour-and-a-half debate included getting involved with downtown development and support of the Legacy Highway project, which Workman and Cook support but Corroon opposes.

A question more subtly characteristic of the audience was directed at how the six golf courses in the county are funded and whether they were believed by the candidates to be essential. Current expenditures include almost $8 million spent on county golf courses.

"Golf is in the category that is nice to have but not totally necessary," Cook said.

He said courses ought to be able to pay for themselves with revenue and that marketing should include the general public.

Workman said a system is in place to allow that revenue to be effective.

"We're in the golf business, and if we're in it we've got to run it like a business," she said.

E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com