About 50 people gathered Thursday at the Riverside County Office of Education to hear Indio City Council candidates discuss their stands on issues ranging from business and commerce to taxes and the city budget.

The Indio Chamber of Commerce sponsored the event.

Participants included the incumbents, Mayor Lupe Ramos Watson and Councilman Michael Wilson, and challengers Planning Commissioner Glenn Miller; Patrick Runyon, a retired law enforcement officer; and Steve Sanchez, former aide to state Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia, R-Cathedral City.

Here's a few of the questions with their abbreviated answers:

Question: What should Indio do to create jobs and improve economic conditions?

Watson: “We need to make sure that we continue to make Indio a business-friendly community and make it easier for companies and small businesses to open and expand here.”

Wilson: “In order to turn the dollar in Indio we have to work harder than ever right now to create new jobs.”

Miller: “Indio needs to diversify its revenue stream by proactively seeking out retail and commercial development that will add jobs and increase the tax base.”

Runyon: “Actively recruit business. We have about seven miles of enterprise zone that have unique business incentives for this area.”

Sanchez: “Utilize our enterprise zone to its fullest. We must also be creative with our own local tax incentives.”

Do you advocate continuing support of the Palm Springs Desert Resort Communities Convention and Visitors Authority? If not what alternatives should be used to promote tourism?

Watson: “I am a proponent. This organization is important to our regional economy in that it helps to attract tourism to the local communities.”

Wilson: “I have not been convinced that the CVA helps Indio and its hoteliers in a substantive way. If Indio continues as a member we must ask for and expect more from the CVA.”

Miller: “The city should continue its support. I also believe that Indio should join forces with the east valley cities of La Quinta and Coachella, (and) the unincorporated areas of Riverside County in marketing the unique lifestyle and activities in the east valley.”

Runyon: “I have concerns that we are not getting much return for our investments from CVA. There has been talk in the past by local hoteliers that they have not been fairly represented. As a city we should expect more.”

Sanchez: “If we are looking to attract more businesses to our area we need to work closely with the (Coachella Valley) Enterprise Zone along with our neighboring city of Coachella and do (a) joint campaign.”

What should be done about the Indio Fashion Mall?

Watson: “The building as it sits today I don't believe can be remodeled.” She thinks there is hope in making it a retail draw for the city but that it would be best to demolish it and start from scratch.

Wilson: “Why can't the city work with Mr. (Richard) Weintraub and move the mall forward.” He said personality issues are getting in the way of mall progress and thinks the city should work with the mall owner as it does with other city developers.

Miller: “The days of it being a regional mall is over.” He thinks the best thing to do is demolish it and start over. He would also like to see the city make one more attempt to work with Weintraub and pin him down on a plan for the mall.

Runyon: “We need a mall. We need it. It's all about people working with people.” He would like to get Weintraub back to the table to hash out differences.

Sanchez: “It's a private business. We should work with businesses. We need to be a very business friendly city. It's a two way street.”