One last round for the mayoral nondebaters

THIS YEAR Boston has suffered a mayoral campaign without a close-up clash of ideas.

Although challenger Maura Hennigan has swung hard in the hopes of landing a haymaker, Tom Menino has danced and dodged like a municipal Muhammad Ali, ducking major TV encounters with his rival.

So with Election Day now upon us, here's a final virtual debate between the two.

Question: Councilor Hennigan, as Boston voters prepare to go to the polls, could you please point to three accomplishments that show why you deserve to be mayor?

''I created the Patrick Lyndon pilot school" in West Roxbury. ''I was responsible for the creation of the child-care facility in City Hall. . . . I created the indoor air quality ordinance . . . that makes sure that in public buildings, the air is tested on a regular basis."

Question: Mayor Menino, the Boston Municipal Research Bureau says that 86 percent of the city's $120 million budget increase this fiscal year has gone to salaries, pensions, and health insurance. That means other parts of the budget, including the quality-of-life services, are getting squeezed. How can the city control those labor costs? Should city workers be getting raise-and-benefit packages that outstrip what private-sector workers get?

''The cost of labor, our contracts are within what we can afford. It has been affirmed by the rating agencies. . . . Some departments are getting squeezed, but you can't expect city employees . . . not to get a fair wage. The only contracts that I believe are out of line are ones for the police and fire," and on both of those, ''an arbitrator made the decision."

Moderator's note: Although the mayor is technically correct, once an arbitrator decided the salary package for the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association last July, the city signaled a willingness to extend a similar yearly increase to the firefighters.

Question: Councilor Hennigan, you have proposed hiring 500 more police officers, more K-8 schools, a school day that mirrors the work day, a regular line item for affordable housing, and a new unit of housing for each new job created in the city. How much would all your new programs cost each year?

''Fifty million dollars for police over four years. . . . Schools can be cost-neutral to begin with. . . . Two, three, four million a year for affordable housing."

Moderator's note: Hennigan would phase in her police hires over her first term. But once all were hired, the annual cost for the 500 would be an additional $40 million, according to the Research Bureau. Her school estimate assumes she can secure enough state, private, and foundation dollars to offset new expenses.

Question: Mayor Menino, back in April you said that if the Boston Teachers Union kept blocking pilot schools, you might push to lift the state cap on charter schools so more charters could be started in Boston. But you were a no-show at a recent State House hearing where others advocated just that. Were you just bluffing?

''Right now we are in negotiations with the teachers union . . . to try to create more pilot schools."

What's your drop dead date? ''The drop dead date for me is the end of the year."

And if it is not resolved by the end of the year? ''I will push for more charters."

Question: Councilor Hennigan, in this campaign, City Council candidate John Connolly has said something anyone who follows city politics knows to be true: Powerful city unions sometimes prevent needed reforms. Could you give an example of where you have spoken hard truths to those unions?

''The unions were very upset with me because I wouldn't vote for Jimmy Kelly for council president" in 2001. ''They . . . said you either do this or we are not going to support you. I said, I think Councilor Brian Honan is a better choice. . . . They said there will be a consequence for that. I said, so be it."

Question: Mayor Menino, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently did two televised debates with his principal opponent. Does he have more respect for the voters of New York City than you do for the citizens of Boston?

''My campaign is based on meeting voters every night. It just isn't . . . made for media."

Question: Councilor Hennigan, do we need mayoral term limits?

''Yes. Two four-year terms."

Question: Mayor Menino, please give a one-word answer: If you win another term, will it be your last?

''I can't answer that question in one word. . . . We'll see what the future holds."

Scot Lehigh's e-mail address is lehigh@globe.com.