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The first debate for the Rockville elections Thursday night offered voters a glimpse of the different styles and viewpoints of the two mayor and 10 City Council candidates vying for office.

Mayor Susan R. Hoffmann and Councilwoman Phyllis R. Marcuccio squared-off first, taking diametrically opposing approaches during the event, which was sponsored by the West End Citizens Association and held at the Rockville Senior Center.

Hoffmann used note cards during her opening and closing statements and a very straightforward style to answering the questions.

Marcuccio did not use cards and answered questions in a more conversational style.

Questions touched on the most pressing issues facing the city, including budget concerns, the RedGate Golf Course and parking in downtown Rockville garages.

Marcuccio emphasized that "we are at a crisis in the city" and that it is time for the residents to "take back the city" from city staff, who she said have more authority than the mayor and council.

She would rebalance that authority on the shoulders of the mayor and council, she said.

Hoffmann painted a sunnier picture of the city, saying that while there may be challenges, everyone should work together to fix them.

Marcuccio offered that one way to help alleviate the question of whether to extend the hours for paid parking in the Town Square garages would be to hold flea markets or events on the top level, but make sure it remained free to park on Saturdays.

The two differed on what they thought the impact of extending the time patrons would have to pay to park in the garages would be on businesses.

Marcuccio said she will listen and do everything she can to help the businesses because she does not want to see Town Square fail.

Hoffmann preferred a compromise between the taxpayers, who subsidize the garages, and the businesses.

The council on Monday adopted a plan created largely by Town Square merchants that creates free garage parking on the weekends, $1 flat rate parking from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, and increases the number of monthly parking passes sold for the garages.

"Our goal is to be the best city in the nation," Hoffmann said. "Keeping our eye on the goal and including the best people with energy, a positive attitude and a commitment to reach that goal is my commitment for the next two years."

Hoffmann said the city's financial situation is not as dire as many people have said after the state pulled back $2.4 million in expected funding last month.

The council on Monday night was briefed on the fourth quarter finances for the city and was told that keeping vacant positions unfilled and delaying some capitol improvement projects would be enough to close the $2.4 million gap.

Nine of the 10 council candidates took the stage for their turn to answer many of the same questions that were posed to the mayoral candidates.

Councilman Piotr Gajewski was absent due to a prior professional commitment.

Present were incumbent Councilman John Britton, Carl Henn, Trapper Martin, Thomas Moore, Bridget Newton, Virginia Onley, Waleed Ovase, Mark Pierzchala and Max van Balgooy.

Questions included whether they thought Town Center is making progress, the distribution of affordable housing and employee raises.

The issue of $1.7 million in raises that the City Council passed in the 2010 budget sharply divides the council and city to this day.

Martin, Ovase and Newton said they did not support the decision to give the employees promised raises and the city would be in better financial shape if it had that extra $1.7 million.

Britton, who voted for the raises, said he stands by his position. Moore, Pierzchala and van Balgooy agreed and said they would have supported the raises.

Onley, Henn and Ovase said they would have liked the City Council to have gone back and at least tried to renegotiate the contracts to save some of that money.

Two more televised debates and two non-televised debates are scheduled before the election.

The Rockville Chamber of Commerce was scheduled to hold a debate after Gazette press time Tuesday at the Legacy Hotel. The Twinbrook Citizens Association will hold a debate Oct. 20 at the Twinbrook Community Recreation Center at 12920 Twinbrook Parkway.

The first non-televised debate, sponsored by the Woodley Gardens Civic Association, the Plymouth Woods Condominium Association and the College Gardens Civic Association, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21 in the College Gardens Elementary School multipurpose room.

The other, sponsored by the community-focused blog Rockville Central, will be held at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 24 at the Thomas Farm Community Center.

Election Day is Nov. 3.