Environmental concerns assumed center stage at a "Green Forum" for County Commission candidates Friday night.

About 60 people heard office seekers for Districts 3 and 5 answer a series of questions posed by Indian Riverkeeper Kevin Stinnette and designed to elicit their positions on conservation issues.

Whether Republican or Democrat, most were in essential agreement. They oppose the construction of wind turbines on Hutchinson Island, support tax breaks and expedited permitting for builders using eco-friendly construction and realize the need for early education to arm citizens with the facts about global warming.

In District 3, incumbent Paula A. Lewis is opposed by political newcomer Raj Nayyar and Gary Charles.

The District 5 race pits Republicans Susan Caron, Bobby Hopkins, Diane Lents and Wes Taylor against Democrats Christ Craft, the incumbent, and Ken Waters.

Charles and Lents were absent from the forum.

The questions, some of which came from audience members, did not lend themselves to facile answers.

For example, what additional steps would you take to promote clean energy and "green collar" jobs? What can we do locally to reverse climate change and halt the predicted rise of sea levels? What steps are you and your family taking to live in a more sustainable manner?

All the candidates praised educational efforts by groups such as the Oxbow Eco-Center and the county Extension Service and its Master Gardener program but stressed that more needs to be done.

"We need a much stronger presence (for these groups) in the schools," Nayyar said.

With reference to recycling, Lewis said she would favor a tax on plastic bags and their eventual ban, as has been done in San Francisco and other cities. "We use the green bags available from Publix and other stores," she said.

The forum was sponsored by a coalition of environmental activists, including the South Florida chapter of Greenpeace, the St. Lucie County Conservation Alliance, the county's Audubon Society, the Treasure Coast chapters of the Surfrider Foundation and Green Drinks, and Indian Riverkeeper.