BLOOMINGTON - One candidate for Ward 7 alderman made a campaign promise to limit urban sprawl, while another highlighted his abilities to work within tight budgets, and the incumbent cited his record as a fiscal watchdog on the City Council.

Alderman Steven Purcell is running for his second term on the council. The Mitsubishi Motors North America employee faces challengers Chuck Irwin and James Keeran.

The three candidates are in the only Bloomington ward that will have a contest on the April 7 ballot.

The trio met Wednesday evening at the Memorial Center at Illinois Wesleyan University for a question-and-answer forum with about 25 local residents.

Purcell, 407 W. Emerson St., talked about how he was elected to be a watchdog after the controversial decision to issue bonds to build U.S. Cellular Coliseum.

Purcell added that in his first vote on the council, he voted against the city giving $2 million to the developer of the Ensenberger Building in downtown. The project is tied up in McLean County Circuit Court because of a dispute between the building owner and the project developer.

Irwin, 6 Inverness Drive, said his time as a school administrator has given him the skills to help the city as it weathers its current fiscal crisis. Irwin served as principal at schools in Streator before retiring.

Changing City Hall to a four-day workweek, limiting the bulk waste program and privatizing the city's golf courses are among the options Irwin offered for narrowing the $5 million deficit in the city's current fiscal year, which ends April 30.

While answering a question about controlling the city's growth, Keeran, 1513 W. Graham St., promised to vote against any subdivision plan that is outside the city limits in which the developer would pay less than 100 percent of costs of water and sewer lines, roads and other infrastructure. Keeran is a retired Pantagraph reporter and editor.

In addition to city finances and urban sprawl, the three candidates answered questions about a second water supply for the city, the proposed east-side highway and police and fire department cooperation between the city and the town of Normal and McLean County.