That's the tack Republican Salt Lake County Councilman Michael Jensen took in a tense debate Wednesday with Democratic rival Paul Pugmire.

When Pugmire said he would support the creation of a unified police district, Jensen retorted that he had pushed the concept for years. When Pugmire said he would oppose a tolled Mountain View Corridor, Jensen responded that he had championed a County Council resolution against making motorists pay a user fee. And when Pugmire said he would push preservation of townships, Jensen noted he has lobbied the Legislature since his early political years for permanent townships.

Combine that with his seats on the Wasatch Front Regional Council and the Central Utah Water Conservancy District and "no one is better situated or has more impact on the growth of Salt Lake County than I do," Jensen said.

Trouble is, Jensen's voice has been all too quiet for the west side's District 2, Pugmire countered. The Democrat chided his two-term opponent for not speaking out louder against the Jordan School District split and for missing 29 percent of formal council meetings during the past four years - an absence rate that he says would get most people fired.

"Maybe Mr. Jensen is trying to do too much," he suggested during the KCPW-sponsored debate at Salt Lake City's Main Library.

Pugmire pledged to donate $300 to the Kearns Boys & Girls Club for every meeting he misses.

Jensen called the attendance argument a misrepresentation, saying his absences often are caused by council-related business such as legislative lobbying and committee meetings.

While Jensen touted his experience, Pugmire insisted that his résumé isn't void of it - not after eight years on the Rexburg (Idaho) City Council, not after serving on South Jordan's Planning Commission and not after his working as an assistant to the Arizona House minority leader.

"I am completely prepared to face the issues that we face," he said. "There will be no need for on-the-job training."

jstettler@sltrib.com