The clearest differences between candidates in the March 6 races for the Santa Fe City Council may be between the two candidates for District 1, covering the city's north side.

Patti Bushee, 52, who has the longest record on the City Council, serving since 1994, described herself a fiscal conservative who is skeptical of some government trends.

Houston Johansen, 25, the youngest candidate on the municipal ballot this year, said he's willing to "try new things," such as a municipally owned electric utility.

At a Wednesday forum, the two candidates were cordial to the point that one man in the audience asked if they were opponents.

But when queried about bond questions on the ballot, they demonstrated different views.

Johansen said he was in support of the proposed bonds because the public-works projects would mean 169 immediate jobs.

"I believe the role of government is to help out when times are tough," he said.

Bushee said she won't tell people how to vote, thinks a new fire station and south-side park are needed and that the property-tax hike that would result if the bonds are approved is minimum.

But she cautioned that the bonds will not pay operating costs for these new facilities, and they could lead to another property-tax increase that wouldn't require approval by the voters.

Asked of their opinions on using surpluses from enterprise funds — which are supposed to be self-sustaining operations such as city utilities — to shore up the city's general budget, Johansen said such flexibility is needed and praised the City Council for a "wise and prudent" way to balance its budget without "throwing people out on the street."

Bushee, however, called that "raiding the enterprise funds," and noted that she introduced an ordinance that would prevent such a practice.

The biggest split of the evening came when the candidates were asked if they supported development of a city-owned energy grid.

Bushee said she had voted for such a study but remains concerned about the city getting into another utility, since the purchase of the water system has meant raising rates. If the city moves toward getting into the electricity business, she said, Public Service Co. of New Mexico, the regulated monopoly supplying city residents, "will battle us to death."

Johansen said a city-owned electric system is one of his priorities. Boulder, Colo., and Austin, Texas, both have had successes with municipal-owned electric systems, and such a system in Santa Fe could create jobs and reduce pollution. "PNM is not our friend in the move to a carbon-neutral economy," he said.

From the applause on Wednesday, Johansen appeared to have more supporters among the 45 people who attended the forum — the final one sponsored by the Democratic Party of Santa Fe County in the nonpartisan election.

The forum was in the Center for Progress and Justice, formerly the Spanish Baptist Church, now the property of the film workers union and Richard Ellenberg, chairman of the county Democratic Party. Johansen has been endorsed by the main city employee union. Bushee has been endorsed by the police and firefighters union. The local nurses' union held its own forum for all council candidates just before the District 1 forum began.

Bushee has qualified for public campaign financing this year. Johansen said he supports public campaign financing but will rely on private contributions totaling no more than $15,000 because he was unable to get 150 registered voters to give him $5 each — the threshold for qualifying for public funds.

Bushee, who works for state government, said she respects Johansen's "youthful exuberance," but believes her years on the council dealing with a variety of issues, especially water conservation, and her record of responding to constituents are enough to return her to another four-year term.

Johansen, who works as a consultant through the Santa Fe Innovation Park, began by saying he was making his first run at elective office because he is afraid Santa Fe is losing its history and way of life. He said he would bring a new energy to the City Council with a willingness to listen to everyone. Although he said he respects Bushee's work as a councilor, "After 18 years, it's time for a change."

Contact Tom Sharpe at 986-3080 or tsharpe@sfnewmexican.com.