Richmond's five candidates for mayor gathered for a more traditional debate Tuesday night and the claws came out.

The candidates -- attorney Paul Goldman, architect Lawrence Williams Sr., attorney Robert Grey, state Delegate and Rev. Dwight Jones and attorney and Richmond City Council president BIll Pantele -- each gave an opening and closing statement and were given 90 seconds to respond to four questions.

But when they were given time to answer a question, some responded with direct or veiled criticism of the other candidates. 

For example, Goldman criticized Jones' statement that it would be good to have a "Southsidian" as mayor, saying they're all the same and that people needed to come together not divide further.

Grey repeatedly told the 70 or so attendees at the Southside Community Center that they were hearing a lot of what the candidate "would do" rather than what they "have done" even though they were the ones with the political experience and he was not. His comment prompted Pantele to stray from the question and cite examples of his accomplishments on council.

During one of his responses, Jones told the residents "you don't need some hotshot from Main Street. You need a people's mayor."

Pantele, whose law offices are on West Main Street, said after the debate that it was clear there was some "sniping" during the event.

"It's not unexpected, but unfortunate," he said. "I think the decorum was kept, which was a good thing."

Candidates were asked:

*What are the top three issues for you the first day you're in office;

*How you will move schools forward;

*How can you improve greater cooperation in the region; and

*What do you plan to do for the 8th District/Southside.

During their opening statements and responses, the candidates said nearly the same things they said at the previous "listening event," held by the Richmond Crusade for Voters last month. 

Goldman touted his experience creating the downtown master plan and changing the law to an elected mayor form of government as ways to give the people more input. Pantele promoted his seven years of experience on council and his already established regional relationships. Grey, who answered more questions this time rather than sidestepping the issues, talked of the need for new leadership and how his managerial skills were well honed. 

Williams pushed his platform of making Richmond the most livable city, starting with putting the neighborhoods first and reaching kids and families at the middle school level. Jones talked of his work in the Southside area as well as the need for more culture, rapid rail up Interstates 95 and 64 and striking a balance between development and preservation on the river.