SUMMERDALE, Ala. — Candidates participating in runoff elections in Baldwin County debated before a packed house Tuesday night at the Baldwin EMC Training Center in Summerdale.

More than 100 people attended the event, sponsored by Baldwin County United, which featured candidates for District Attorney and Baldwin County Commission Place 2 and Place 3 seats.

The debate was split into two parts, each lasting just under one hour. The first half of the debate featured Hallie Dixon and David Green, Republican candidates for Baldwin County’s District Attorney seat.

Dixon emerged from the June 1 primary as the frontrunner with 9,897 votes (33.0 percent) over Green whose 9,224 votes (30.78 percent) edged out incumbent Judy Newcomb who received 8,877 votes (29.6 percent).

Each candidate was allowed two-minute opening and closing statements, and answered questions submitted from the floor. The debates were moderated by former BCU president David Lawrenz.

Each candidate was allowed one minute to respond to 10 different questions.

Both candidates agreed that addressing the back-log of cases is a major issue facing the District Attorney’s office. They also addressed the DA’s role in the Gulf oil crisis and addressed a general question on the DA’s role in environmental issues.

Questions were also presented as to each candidate’s qualifications for the position and experience in handling cases through the DA’s office.

One question that received attention regarded listing three of the eight exceptions to issuing a search warrant.

Green responded by saying the question was “planted” and while admitting he did not know the answer, he used his time to list endorsements he had received within the District Attorney’s office and attacking his opponent’s role in high turnover associated with the DA’s office.

Dixon would later respond by saying she wanted to run on her own merits, rather than running on who is or who is not endorsing her.

“I am not here to debate (former District Attorney) David Whetstone. He is not running for this office in this election,” she said. “I am not here to debate Judy Newcomb. She lost. I am not here to debate Ken Hitson. He lost. My qualifications speak for themselves. We need to make this office into what it can and should be.”

In closing, while Dixon stood on her experience in both the District Attorney and State Attorney General’s offices, Green touted his experience as the head of a large firm, dealing with multiple cases and large budgets.

“This is not Mayberry anymore,” he said. “I am not running for chief assistant District Attorney. The position I am running for requires organization and leadership and I have displayed those qualities.”

The District Attorney’s position carries a $149,000 a year salary over a six-year term.

In the second half of Tuesday’s debate, District 2 incumbent David Ed Bishop and District 3 incumbent Wayne Gruenloh debated against opponents Bob James and Tucker Dorsey.

Dorsey edged out Gruenloh in the District 3 Republican primary with 10,754 votes (39.8 percent) to Gruenloh’s 10,326 votes (38.2 percent) and Will McDaniel, who received 5,943 votes (21.99 percent). Bishop led the District 2 Republican primary with 12,532 votes (44.0 percent) over James’ 10,214 votes (35.88 percent) and Daniel Dyas’ 5,720 votes (20.09 percent).

The second debate followed the same format as the first, with each candidate answering nine questions.

Candidates also answered questions regarding the oil spill crisis and other issues, such as property tax assessment, accountability regarding the 1 cent sales taxes for schools and the possibility of a longer summer break to help with school funding.

A question regarding the county’s financial condition sparked the most debate with both Gruenloh and Bishop calling the county’s financial condition “excellent” while the two challengers expressed concern about the county’s financial future.

“It’s like having a good credit rating. That just means that all of your past bills have been paid,” Dorsey said. “We need to be proactive to insure that our county’s financial future is secure.”

James called the county’s finances, “very poor.”

“If you look back to 2004, the county’s budget went from about $100 million to almost $200 million,” he said. “That number is now back to $150 million and will probably be back to $100 million before long. We need to be moving forward, not backward.”

A question regarding the regulation of private sewer systems also sparked debate.

Both Gruenloh and Bishop stated that the County Commission has been fighting to regulate private sewer systems for their entire tenure on the Commission, but further action needs to be taken by the State Legislature.

“I don’t have ties to any private sewer companies,” Gruenloh said, “that is something I don’t think all of the candidates up here can say.”

County Commission seats carry an annual salary of $32,000 over a four-year term.

Runoff elections in Baldwin County are slated for July 13. Also on the ballot is the Republican runoff for governor between front runner Bradley Byrne and Dr. Robert Bentley.