PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The race for the Philadelphia's top job is on as the Democratic and Republican candidates for mayor faced one another in a debate.
Democrat Jim Kenney and Republican Melissa Murray Bailey fielded questions from WHYY moderators. Jobs, stop and frisk, poverty, street cleaning and immigration dominated the hour-long debate but at the forefront was education funding.
Both candidates were greeted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.
"Universal pre-K is an absolute. We are working on a plan right now to make sure that we have enough input from city government in resources from philanthropy and from corporate help to make sure we get this program off the ground immediately," Kenney said.
"We need to stop investing in things, pressing pause on programs that are not our number one priority," Bailey said.
Talking economy, Kenney wants expansion of the Philadelphia port. Bailey wants companies to headquarter here.
"The energy hub and bringing manufacturing jobs that could leverage the liquid natural gas," Bailey said.
"The land at the Navy Yard is prime land on the waterfront, the opportunity to really grow those jobs, they're $35 or $40 an hour jobs that pay great benefits for people to raise families," Kenney said.
Both touched on diversifying the city. Kenney wants immigrants to feel welcome, noting many are vital to our economy. Bailey suggests arranging tax abatements for more mixed income communities.
Bailey wants to hire more police.
Both candidates also shared their thoughts on community and police relations and stop and frisk.
"Stop and frisk is a written policy that's obnoxious. A police officer that feels in danger always has the opportunity to stop and frisk somebody if they think they have a weapon," Kenney said.
"I believe that we need to reform the way we do stop and frisk in the city so that people's constitutional rights are protected," Bailey said.
Democratic voters outnumber Republicans in Philadelphia 6-1.
Still, both candidates are positive about the debates and hope to reach wider audiences.