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The two candidates vying for the Ward 2 seat on the City Council engaged each other in debate Thursday night — sparring over the city budget, abortion and campaign advertising.

Republican Lori Oien called out Democrat Rodney Glassman on his plan to open and light up all the schoolyards in the city and turn them into city parks.

Oien called it "a-chicken-in- every-pot scheme" and asked voters in the audience if they would like lights on until 10 p.m. at neighborhood schools, most of whom said no.

"How much do we mandate in city government?" Oien questioned, adding it would take tax money for the lights, new bathrooms and police protection needed at the schools.

Glassman told the audience of about 40 at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 602 N. Wilmot Road, that "the easy answer to every idea is to say no" and vowed to explore the idea with neighborhoods and the city staff if elected to make it happen.

Glassman also defended his ideas to mandate new homes in Tucson be plumbed for gray water and solar water-heating systems, saying home builders and new-home buyers would bear the cost. He also said commercial developments should be mandated to harvest rainwater on their properties.

The format of the debate was different from most forums, chiefly because there were only two candidates. In addition, questions came from the audience and the candidates.

In addition to Oien putting Glassman on the spot over schools becoming parks, the two asked each other about their views on abortion, leadership and decision making, and the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan.

The audience also asked a question about misleading advertising.

Oien said neither candidate has engaged in misleading advertising and pulled out a flier that has been at issue in this campaign, a flier that touted Democrats who supported Oien and had a picture of her with Gov. Janet Napolitano.

Oien said Napolitano is her governor and had given her an award. "I don't think there's anything misleading — if you are literate," Oien said.

Glassman said he believed the best in everyone, so he said he didn't think Oien was trying to be misleading, although he said it could be confusing, because the governor has endorsed him.

Near the end, the aspiring council members were asked who they supported for president in 2008.

Glassman said he supported former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards because he said he got to know Edwards when he worked for U.S. Rep Raúl Grijalva. He said he could change his mind later.

Oien said she supported Rudy Giuliani because of his leadership on Sept. 11. She said she didn't support Hillary Clinton as a Democrat because she didn't want 24 years of a Bush or Clinton as president, which would happen if Clinton were elected in 2008.

The debate was hosted by the League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson and local neighborhood associations.