Forest Heights Councilwoman Jacqueline Goodall (Ward 1), one of four people running for mayor in town elections next week, drew cheers from the approximately 50 residents who attended a debate Wednesday night when she said, "How dare they sit up here and even apply."

Goodall was referring to two of her opponents, suspended current Mayor Andrea McCutcheon and former mayor Myles Spires Jr., who was suspended in 2006 during his own term. Each have open lawsuits against the town of Forest Heights claiming they were wrongly removed from office.

Residents used a good portion of a 90-minute public question period at the Forest Heights Municipal Building to grill McCutcheon and Spires on their suspensions and lawsuits, making it clear residents do not want to see the town continue with its trend of tumultuous leadership. McCutcheon and Spires said their lawsuits are justified because they believe their suspensions were not carried out properly.

Goodall also came under fire Wednesday for some of her financial priorities, such as supporting raises for the mayor and council members and focusing her effort on revamping the municipal building rather than community programs. Goodall said the raises are justified because of the amount of work the mayor and council members do and that the "green" renovations to the administration building will help the town secure environmentally focused grants in the future.

Larry Stoner, the other mayoral candidate who served as Spires' successor, was out of the fray for most of the public question period, with only one inquiry about public safety coming his way.

Forest Heights has struggled with its leadership over the years, and the election Wednesday of a new mayor and two council members comes amid the town's latest personnel saga.

McCutcheon, the current mayor and a councilwoman since 2006, was suspended in January for charter violations that included submitting a required budget report late and administering employee bonuses without council approval.

Spires, who served as mayor in 2006, was suspended in that year and was found guilty in Prince George's County Circuit Court in October 2007 of felony theft over $500 and misconduct in office. He was sentenced in November 2007 to six months' home detention, but in March 2009, the judge reconsidered the case, and amended the two guilty charges to probation before judgment.

Candidates were not allowed to question each other during the debate, and the meat of their platforms surfaced during closing and opening statements.

McCutcheon said she would provide more programs for community members. In addition, McCutcheon also said she wants to improve transparency in the town, which is something she was criticized for during her term.

Spires wants the town to move past politics and work on reducing taxes, adding police officers and improving city streets.

Stoner wants to give the town back to the community and reinstall professional leadership that addresses residents' needs.

Goodall called for financial transparency and rebuilding the town's relationships with leaders and other municipalities to restore Forest Heights' image.

The Town Council candidates took the stage before the mayoral debate. In Ward 3, Councilman William E. Clarke is up against Taunya Hines, a former councilwoman.

Clarke wants to see better roads while Hines wants to see more senior and youth programs.

In Ward 2, Anne K. Reifsneider faces former councilman Clifton Atkinson. Reifsneider wants to address the town's storm-water drainage issues while Atkinson wants to better involve the community.

No one has filed for Goodall's Ward 1 seat. During an editorial board meeting with The Gazette, she stated she would return to the council seat if she loses the mayoral race.

The council seats held by C. Lynn Smith-Barnes (Ward 1), Brian McLaurin (Ward 3) and Council President Jonathon W. Kennedy II (Ward 2) are not up for election until 2012.

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