POST FALLS - Both Post Falls mayoral candidates on Friday fought back against concerns targeted at them during their run for the Nov. 5 election.

Kerri Thoreson and Ron Jacobson - both current city council members - cleared the air on multiple issues at the Panhandle Pachyderm Club meeting at Red Lion Templin's Hotel.

Then came rapid-fire questions from conservatives, including voting records on tax hikes, why they would be better-qualified to be mayor, and how much time they could devote to the part-time job.

Jacobson has called Thoreson a "cheerleader" for the community, and said he would be a better choice to ease the tax burden on residents by facilitating commercial growth based on his banking and financial background.

"As a banker, I've dealt with big companies and small companies," he said. "I'm not running to be a rah-rah guy."

But Thoreson said she has also demonstrated plenty of local business savvy, helping revive the former weekly Post Falls Tribune, and leading the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce to new heights as the nonprofit's former executive director.

Thoreson, 61, said she has been "poked at" for organizing the Post Falls parade for the past 24 years, but she said that shows the pride she has in the community and is just one of many ways she has been involved.

"The parade is just a one-day event," the semi-retired independent writer and photographer said, adding that she indeed considers herself a booster and promoter of Post Falls, which is part of what being a mayor is about.

"I know I'm qualified to be mayor. I know my experience has served me well," she said.

Thoreson, who has been on the city council since 2008, lost to current Mayor Clay Larkin for the position in 2001. Larkin, who has served the longest of any of the city's 36 mayors, decided to not seek re-election.

Jacobson, 57, has served on the city council for the past 14 years. He has been in the banking industry for 35 years, including the past 13 as a senior vice president for Inland Northwest Bank.

Jacobson, who is supported by Larkin, has been questioned whether he'd be able to keep up with his full-time job as well as the part-time mayoral position.

"My (bank) job will be my priority, but will the city suffer because of it? I don't believe it will," Jacobson said. "If I need to get to the (city) office early, that will not be a problem. If I need to stay late, that will not be a problem. I will make myself available."

Jacobson said he has demonstrated that filling in for Larkin at public events while being the council president hasn't been a problem. He said the city also has excellent, award-winning staff to handle a lot of the city matters.

Jacobson said the retired Larkin is the first to admit that he has spent more time at City Hall than he needs to and, when he cut back in recent months, operations continued to go smoothly.

Thoreson, who touts her accessibility, pointed to the duties of the mayor vs. the city council, saying she fits the role well. The mayor has executive and legislative duties, whereas the council is charged with fiscal decisions.

"The mayor is charged with listening and responding to constituent issues and concerns," she said. "Being responsive... has been a hallmark of my tenure on the council. My involvement in the community is broad."

Jacobson said Thoreson's voting record on not increasing taxes hasn't been as consistent as some believe. She voted to increase them both in 2008 and in 2011 when the ordinance was approved after voting "no" at the public hearing two weeks earlier.

"In my opinion, she waffled because she was playing to the crowd," Jacobson said. "My criticism is not of her vote, but the way she's representing the vote."

Thoreson has called her "yes" vote in approving the tax increase a "moot point" because the decision had been all but made.

"The ordinance vote was procedural, not a determiner of the budget amount," she said.

Hogwash, Jacobson says.

"You don't change a vote because it's a moot point," he said.

Thoreson, who is in the middle of her council term, said she wonders if Jacobson's jab is an effort to distract from his own record of supporting tax increases during multiple years.

Jacobson said he has never denied increasing taxes.

"I prefer not to increase them," he said. "But if costs go up and property values go down ... tell us what to cut."

Jacobson, whose council term is ending, said increasing taxes was justified during the boom years because more staff was needed to keep up with the services and programs that were expected of the city. But he said the council has held the line on tax increases in four of the past five years.

Thoreson said her plan is to visit all of the city departments within her first 100 days of office to get a feel for what improvements, if any, are needed at the city before recommending any changes.

But Jacobson has said he'll take a hands-off approach.

"I think it's important to get input from the public," he said. "But we have an excellent, trained staff. Let's stay out of their way and let them do their jobs."

Both candidates say they are disgusted over circumstances surrounding endorsements of their opponent from political groups.

The Reagan Republicans endorsed Thoreson, while Balance North Idaho endorsed Jacobson.

Jacobson attacked the credibility of the Republican group's endorsement since the candidates weren't interviewed and Thoreson's history of fiscal decisions were listed as a determining factor.

Thoreson said she was troubled after interviewing with Balance that a question of who she has assisting with her mailing came up.

The candidates say they are not having individuals associated with either of the political marketing firms or endorsement groups manage their campaigns.

- Meet the candidates

The Post Falls Chamber of Commerce will hold a meet-and-greet event featuring the Post Falls city candidates on Thursday from 4:30-6 p.m. at the chamber office, 201 E. Fourth Ave. The public is invited.