With 12 people participating in a forum of two hours' duration, Wednesday night's event for Livingston County Board candidates had one similarity to presidential debates in late 2007, when candidates were plentiful in both major parties: limited time for each hopeful to make his or her points.

Unlike some of those televised events, however, there was no interrupting in the Pontiac Township High School auditorium, as each candidate was given a timed two minutes to answer each question, which time, if all used, didn't leave time for too many questions posed by the sponsors, WJEZ and the legislative committee of the Livingston County Farm Bureau.

So it wasn't until 8:08 p.m., when the forum resumed after a midpoint break, that candidates were asked a question about a hot-button issue in Livingston County over the last year: What is your position on wind-energy conversion systems?

Richard Thomas, a District 2 candidate from Dwight, was the first to answer, because of the alternating system for the 12 participants to reply to a question. He said that the details must be looked at, including the impact of wind farms on property values and rights, and the long-term environmental impact. He added that the county needs planned growth in energy areas, including solar.

Joseph Steichen, from rural Kempton, compared wind farms to hog farms as ways to keep Livingston County agricultural. Given the choice, he said, he'd take wind farms.

Judy Campbell, like the previous two answerers a District 2 candidate, and from Cornell, disagreed. "This is industry, folks, this is not agriculture," she told the auditorium audience and listeners to the live broadcast by WJEZ.

"Who's asking the residents what they want?" she asked. Country residents with two acres "aren't being asked" their opinions but need to weigh in, she added.

Robert Young, an incumbent from rural Emington, indicated he wanted more study on the subject, and referred to the appearance of wind farms on the landscape, a concern of his. But he conceded that "you can't have it all ways" on the issues. A fellow incumbent and the next to answer, Dee Woodburn, said she would look at all aspects of wind farms and how they will affect the county.

The third District 2 incumbent to answer the question, David Heath, asked for patience, as public hearings continue and more documents from companies are submitted. He called wind farms "a very good thing. I can see it happening all around us."

With answers being given from right to left from the audience's view, the first District 1 candidate to answer was the one listed sixth and last on Tuesday ballot for that district, made up of Pontiac and Rooks Creek townships.

Marty Fanning, a non-incumbent from Pontiac, said the board must look into long-term consequences, and he urged talking with other counties.

Eldon Ruff, a board member for about a year via appointment to fill a vacancy, said the county needs to protect property owners in case a development fails, and fellow incumbent William Fairfield said the board should slow down and take "a hard look" at wind farms, and their effect on the "environment and (the) good life in Livingston County."

Non-incumbent Kathy Arbogast was another candidate who favored an "in-depth" look before the board makes any decisions.

Carolyn Gerwin, of Pontiac, describing herself as an environmentalist who has been studying wind farms for two years, said she had "some grave concerns" about it they are a "green industry."

"Our wind ordinance is very weak. It does not protect anyone in the county," she said. Livingston County should have placed a moratorium on wind-farm development, and she would prefer to see other counties' experiences with them, she said.

Arnold Natzke, an incumbent from Pontiac, said he will attend public hearings to learn what the possibilities of wind energy is, because "we have to do something" about the country's energy situation.

Those public hearings will bring out some answers to questions now being asked, and he suggested the county take a wait-and-see position on the subject.

District 3 has five Republican candidates for four seats. None was present at the forum. That district also has one Democrat, who is unopposed for nomination and will be on the November ballot.