Richmond's mayoral candidates outlined last night how they would deal with the fiscal crunch that's expected to trickle from the state budget shortfall.

Speaking at a forum at Linwood Holton Elementary School, Robert J. Grey Jr. said the troubles show why the city needs a mayor with management experience, like his as chairman of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.

Speaking later about his experience, Grey not only blasted two rivals but also uncharacteristically criticized Mayor L. Douglas Wilder.

"We have not had good leadership," Grey said. "We have been failed by our mayor. We have been failed by our City Council. We have been failed by our state delegation. We need someone who's going to get in there and bring people together for good results."

Del. Dwight Clinton Jones said his response to the budget would include following recommendations of the city auditor to make spending more efficient.

"And then we'll probably want to go further in terms of cuts of jobs," he said.

City Council President William J. Pantele said the city already expects cuts of $2.5 million. He said the auditor's suggestions could save $30 million and be implemented in 90 days.

"These are process items. These aren't massive reorganizations or layoffs," he said, before blasting Wilder for ignoring similar recommendations from his own advisers.

Paul Goldman said Richmond has been living off a real estate bubble that's about to burst. "We should have been cutting all along," he said, pledging no raises and cuts to city staff.

Lawrence E. Williams Sr. also promised efficiencies but said he would not let the economy distract from initiatives.

"A good mayor's going to still push the planning for the schools along, is still going to push the planning for the neighborhoods along," he said.

At a forum earlier, it took a high school student to put race on the table.

Danny Yates, a senior at the Maggie Walker Regional Governor's School, asked whether the candidates would support race-based affirmative action to improve diversity at that school and others.

None of the four candidates present answered directly, but they applauded Yates for raising such a sensitive issue.

Grey, Jones and Williams -- all of whom are black -- suggested discussion of the issue. Pantele, who is white, agreed.

However, Williams went further, saying Pantele would not go into a predominantly black community such as Fairfield Court to solve problems there, while he would.

"Pure and simple, that was just a gratuitous attack," Pantele said later. "It was extremely irresponsible of him."

Pantele has represented the Gilpin Court public-housing complex for seven years as 2nd District councilman.
Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or wjones@timesdispatch.com.

Contact Michael Martz at (804) 649-6964 or mmartz@timesdispatch.com.