CLEARWATER, Fla. — Clearwater voters heard from both candidates running for mayor at a forum Thursday evening. Dozens came out to city council chambers to hear council member Kathleen Beckman and attorney Bruce Rector answer questions on topics ranging from why they're the best person for the job to their thoughts on a new state financial disclosure law that prompted local elected officials statewide to resign at the end of last year.

"I love the work. I really love the work that we've been doing for four years," Beckman said in an interview after the forum. "I love engaging with residents. The city's on a positive trajectory, and I want to continue that work."

"I want to help Clearwater succeed for generations to come," Rector said. "I've got a son who's 23 here, who works full time in Clearwater and lives in Clearwater. I want to see Clearwater prosper and grow and be better for his children."

Some residents said ahead of the meeting they wanted to hear how candidates would address public safety concerns.

"I'm hoping to hear that there's going to be some reform done with the Clearwater Police Department," resident Daniel Holuba said. "There's been a couple of very high profile separations recently, and I believe that goes right back to the very poor hiring practices of Clearwater Police."

"The fire department has actually lost frontline personnel over the past 20 years," said David Sowers, president of Clearwater Firefighters Association Local 1158. "We haven't increased our minimum staffing. The direct impact to citizens has been affected. Population has increased, cost of living has increased. We're not keeping up with them. That's what we're hoping to hear - how these candidates plan to address fire safety."

In response to a question about whether there's a benchmark to determine if neighborhoods are getting enough money allocated to them in the city budget, Beckman said there isn't a line item specifically for neighborhoods. Rector said fire and police are among the largest parts of the budget and are very important to all neighborhoods. He said the city needs to work to attract and keep the best people for both departments.

Others said they wanted to hear an overall plan from candidates.

"I'm hoping they touch on their vision," said Andera Evans-Dixon, campaign manager for one of the candidates for seat three on the city council. "I think that if we're going to have someone that's going to run our city, we should have someone who has a vision for the city, and that needs to be a plan that they can articulate and that they can actually share with us."

Both Beckman and Rector said the city will need to tackle updating its aging infrastructure in the years ahead, but they highlighted other challenges, as well.

"Just keeping our taxes and fees low for our residents," Rector said. "We have so many, particularly elderly, residents that are hurting."

"Certainly, housing is a universal challenge - both in the state and nationally," Beckman said. "It's a big challenge for Clearwater."

Clearwater's municipal elections are scheduled for March 19.