The debate ranged from the proposed $1.3 billion Xanadu development at the Meadowlands Sports Complex to the legitimacy of a small property tax cut enacted by the first-year Democratic administration.

Democrats, who took control of the county executive's office and Freeholder Board last year for the first time ever, are trying to protect their 5-2 majority on the board.

Incumbent Democrats Valerie Huttle, Tomas Padilla, and James Carroll are being challenged by Republicans Joel Brizzi, Elizabeth Randall, and Anthony Cassano, the former board chairman who lost reelection last year.

Green Party candidate Irwin Nack of Oakland also participated, although running mate Paul Forste was absent.

Democrats touted the accomplishments of their first nine months in power, including a $350 million spending plan that offered a slight property tax cut.

"I'm very proud of our last nine months," said Carroll, who also is mayor of Demarest. "My first act saved taxpayers $55,000 by cutting a maintenance agreement."

Republicans, however, noted that the tax cut was made possible by borrowing $8.5 million against projected future revenues from a landfill-closure project.

"That's not the way to operate the government when you're supposed to have a balanced budget," said Randall, a former state assemblywoman and county counsel under former Republican County Executive William "Pat" Schuber.

The candidates also sounded off on the plan to redevelop the property around Continental Arena in the Meadowlands.

Brizzi, a councilman in East Rutherford, the project's home, said residents haven't been given enough input on the entertainment, retail, and office project, which he said would have a major effect on his town.

Huttle, the freeholder chairwoman, called it a good plan that would bring needed family entertainment to the region.

Other questions from moderator Louise Ballard brought few specifics.

Asked what they would do to "regionalize" or consolidate government services, Randall said, "The county needs to be a think tank and encourage towns to come together." Huttle said the board "has been a partner" with the county's 70 towns during the past nine months.

More polished and specific responses came after questions from the audience - some of whom appeared to be well-rehearsed party loyalists.

One audience member asked what the freeholders were doing to help battle the high cost of prescription drugs.

Democrats, who early this year agreed to sponsor a prescription drug discount card that is offered by a consortium of pharmacies, seized on the question.

"It' not a cure-all, but it's a start," Padilla said of the discount card, which is available to all county residents and offers discounts of 10 percent or more.

Republicans said it was a worthy program but that the county's role - basically to promote it and hand out applications - was being trumped up by the Democrats.

A few jabs were exchanged during the generally calm forum.

After Nack, the Green candidate, said he would become an advocate for legislation that would root out the practice of awarding government contracts to campaign contributors - known as "pay-to-play" - Republicans accused the Democrats of taking that system to new heights after raising $4 million during last year's county executive and freeholder campaigns.

"How are they paying that back?" Brizzi asked, noting reports in The Record earlier this year that two thirds of the county contracts awarded under Democratic County Executive Dennis McNerney went to contributors.

Cassano headed off an anticipated jab from Democrats about four public administration courses he took 10 years ago for which he received partial reimbursement of $1,298.

The county's tuition reimbursement practices came under criticism after a story in The Record showed that several employees under Schuber had tuition bills as high as $10,000 paid fully by taxpayers - while most county employees were limited to $600 a year.

Cassano said he paid for at least half of the courses, which he said he took "to be a better freeholder."

Monday's debate was the first of two sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Bergen County. Another debate is scheduled for Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Freeholder Board's meeting hall at 1 Bergen County Plaza in Hackensack.

E-mail: harrington@northjersey.com