Candidates up for election this fall played nice during Thursday night’s candidate forum in Oak Harbor.

Contenders for county sheriff, assessor and the Court of Appeals tried to shine primarily by stressing their qualifications. And no surprises emerged from the audience during the question-and-answer session.

The four candidates for sheriff — Republicans L.C. “Lenny” Marlborough, William “De” Dennis, Mark Brown and Democrat Jay Wallace — pointed to identity theft and traffic fatalities due to reckless or impaired driving as prime problems in Island County. Protecting children and elders from predators was also a concern among the candidates.

However, one reoccurring theme stood out: How will the new sheriff tackle the meth problem in Island County?

Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks said most drug arrests are made in connection with another crime, after police search people’s possessions and find drugs. Banks asked the candidates how they plan to fight the drug problem effectively, and he also wondered if they could find the manpower and money to establish a drug task force.

Wallace said the problem is serious and must be made a priority.

“You have to find the money within the budget,” Wallace said. “Everything is pretty much related to drugs.”

Dennis said working with other law enforcement agencies such as local police and the military’s drug task force is important.

He acknowledged that it will cost money to get a task force up and running, but said money was not the key issue.

“There is no reason why not to establish a task force,” Dennis said. “The only reason why we don’t have one is that we need the proper training.”

Marlborough offered suggestions on how to finance a task force.

He said money made from property seizures of drug offenders could be put into a “drug fund” that could help pay for a task force or training.

“For some reason those seizures have not been happening,” he said.

Brown talked about the critical location of Island County. It makes the county vulnerable because traffickers from Mexico and Canada both use I-5 to move the illegal drugs.

One audience member wanted to know where the candidates stand on enforcement, if they would be a “heavy hand” sheriff or a “guiding hand” sheriff.

Marlborough said he believes in making the public part of the solution. He shared his experience with rowdy kids as the town marshal of Coupeville.

Marlborough began eating his lunch in the park where the troublemakers were loitering, he recalled. After a while they wanted to know why he was there and he told them that he had to eat his lunch in the park until they stopped causing trouble.

“Instead of attacking them, we made them part of the solution,” he said.

Dennis agreed that everybody makes mistakes, but it is important to fight crime effectively even if more force is needed.

“Take the minimum of action required to gain compliance,” he said.

Dennis also stressed that it is important to form partnerships with the community and get residents involved.

Wallace said it is necessary to tackle the problem before it starts. He said he is an advocate for programs such as DARE.

“Children are our future,” he said. “You got to start early to reach children.”

Brown had a slightly different take.

“My approach is two-folded,” Brown said. “A enforcement component and the education component.”

Laws must be enforced, but people have to be taught about consequences.

As the candidates for sheriff outlined their numerous qualifications for the job, all but Wallace focused primarily on their local experience.

Wallace, however, spoke much about his years with the San Francisco Police Department.

If some thought the candidates treated each other with kid gloves, then the audience did, as well. No one asked Wallace about him being wfired from his deputy’s job by Sheriff Mike Hawley, or Wallace’s lack of response to 911 calls that led to his dismissal.

Likewise, no one asked him switching parties in June to become the sole Democratic candidate for sheriff after he only received one vote at the Republican convention.

The candidates forum also included another race that will feature a showdown during the primary: the race for county assessor.

The focus in the assessor race is how to bring the assessor’s office in the 21st century.

The candidates for assessor agreed that the office’s computer system and software must be brought up to speed. They slightly disagreed about how to fund the improvements, though.

Dave Mattens, a Democrat, said money can be generated from multiple sources, but added that the costs of new technology could be offset by greater staff efficiency.

Republican Don Mason said it will be challenging to secure the funds, since the assessor’s office must compete with other departments for money during budget time. But he, too, said the improvements must be made.

Republican Dan Jones agreed with his opponents that the office was struggling with dated technology.

“There is money, it’s a matter of spending it wisely,” he said.

Another topic introduced Thursday night was the proposed hospital levy.

The proposed six-year levy would dedicate 7 cents of the 15-cent increase to enhance basic life support needs and to continuing funding off-island transports, which keep advanced life support ambulances available for more serious injuries.

Five cents of the increase would go to construction of central and South Whidbey paramedic quarters; one cent is needed to offset decreasing reimbursements and increasing costs.

Mary Kay Becker and her challenger Jeff Teichert, candidates for Court of Appeals judge, also introduced their agendas.

The forum was sponsored by the League of Women Voters.

Michaela Marx Wheatley can be reached at 221-5300 or mmarxwheatley@southwhidbeyrecord.com.