The gravel pit is still a major issue. So is how to pay for city services.

"Government is not about blue skies and fun," said three-term incumbent Tom Dolan, during the discussion at the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics. "It's about making ends meet."

And, that's where the future of the gravel pit comes in.

The three vying for the mayor's seat - Dolan, Gary Forbush and Drake Meyer - remain deadlocked on different sides of the issue.

Forbush argues The Boyer Co. development plan isn't vital to the city's economic future.

"We need a more diverse financial base," he said. "Not just big retail."

Forbush is a member of Save Our Communities, the resident group that collected the signatures to force a referendum on the gravel pit's zoning. The Sandy City Council had rezoned the 107-acre site last November to allow a development that includes a Super Wal-Mart, a Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, a smattering of smaller retailers and restaurants, more than 300 housing units, and some 20 acres of park space.

"I'm very against the rezone," the challenger declared.

Dolan says retail development of the site is critical to the southeast Salt Lake Valley community's economic future.

Existing big-box retailers will leave their Sandy stores and will take sales-tax dollars with them if they don't get a new location, he said.

"It is a tax-base issue," the incumbent said.

Meyer's position is tough to gauge on the issue.

He didn't say whether he will cast a "yes" or "no" vote on the Nov. 8 referendum. He didn't knock big boxes though.

"It makes no sense to get rid of all the Wal-Marts and big-box stores," he said.

Meyer casts himself as an independent. "I'm not connected to anyone pulling my chains," he said.

With a city that's nearing build-out - there are 95,000 residents today with room for an estimated 10,000 more - the question of who controls Sandy's "look" is at stake in this election.

"We are at a crossroads," Dolan said. "In the next four years we'll make decisions on what [Sandy] will be for the next 20."

That's why building an economic base - not only at the gravel pit but in other pieces of open space - is critical, Dolan said.

It's a stand the others don't disagree with. They disagree over the way that is accomplished.

"We have to be careful stewards in Sandy city with what we have, what we allow," Forbush said.

The three contenders - and their audience - were cordial Wednesday. In a debate last month that was hosted by the Sandy Chamber of Commerce, audience members and candidates alike tossed about accusations of trickery, deception and outright lies.

jsantini@sltrib.com