The candidates for mayor, incumbent John L. Swedberg, Ken Mundy and Earl C. Gable , Jr., each answered nine questions and gave opening and closing remarks.

The issues raised to the candidates included concerns about growth, taxes, schools and city services, such as the police and fire departments.

The candidates agreed controls are needed with regards to residential development so the schools do not become overcrowded.

“While the growth is manageable, we need to look at every project with merit,” Mundy said. “Just because it is good for the developer and the land owner does not mean that it is good for Sycamore.”

The candidates were also asked about the lack of affordable housing in Sycamore.

“The rising land values are a real deterrent to the creation of affordable housing,” Swedberg said. “We would gladly part with a track of land to get some affordable housing built.”

Impact fees, which have been providing much needed revenue for city services, were also a topic of discussion.

“Impact fees mean more money for the city, and I support them,” Gable said. “But if we do not get the commercial and industrial growth to pay those fees, then our residents are going to have to pay them.”

The audience, which consisted of about 140 people, walked away with some answers and some questions.

“I was disappointed with the lack of variety of questions that were asked,” said Carolyn Law, Sycamore resident and NIU dissertation adviser. “I would have liked to have heard more about the other issues on our minds like streets, sidewalks and public services.”

The candidate forum can be heard on the radio at 11 a.m. Saturday on WLBK 1360 AM.