District 3 City Council candidates addressed everything from infrastructure to Iraq at a community forum Tuesday.

Five of the candidates for the council seat fielded questions from a standing-room only crowd at the Joyce Beers Community Center.

And while questions about medical marijuana and the war snuck in, residents seemed most concerned with repairs and renovations to neighborhood streets, development, public safety and the city’s pension crisis.

Todd Gloria, John Hartley, James Hartline, Robert Lee and Stephen Whitburn answered nearly 20 questions during the two-hour forum, moderated by Betty Weinberger of the League of Women Voters.

Each of the candidates took a strong stand against 301 University, a proposed 12-story development at the corner of Third Street and University Avenue.

“I have gone on record opposing 301 University,” Gloria said. “It is out of scale. It sets a bad precedent, and it sends the wrong message to the community.”

His challengers agreed.

“The building is out of character with the community,” Whitburn said.

“With respect to traffic capacity at that intersection, if you try to drive that route at rush hour, you know what it can be like. I’m not in favor of making that any worse.”

Others took issue with District 3 Councilmember Toni Atkins’ support for the project.

“I’m disappointed to see that Toni Atkins supported the measure to do this,” Lee said. “This kind of structure just does not fit.”

Hartline took issue with the developers’ campaign contributions to Atkins, and other city officials.

“The key is not to let the redevelopers get to the door to propose the plan in the first place,” he said. “This district elected a councilwoman who voted for the project. I am so disgusted with the powerbrokers in this city trying to force their agendas on us.”

Hartley took a similar position.

“There is a culture of corruption at city hall, and the developers have more clout at city hall than the residents,” Hartley said.

The candidates all supported an interim height restriction that has been proposed as a result of the 301 project, and agreed that neighborhoods should have a say in growth.

Of the city’s budget troubles and pension crisis, Gloria said solving the city’s financial woes is a “long-term obligation.”

“The city has made a lot of changes, and we have more transparency now,” he said. “We’re doing a bit better …, but it will take strong fiscal discipline never to let us get as down as we did.”

Whitburn said honesty, priority and financing are the keys to getting the city back on track.

“One, deals happened, or activities happened not out in the open that got us into the position we’re in,” he said. “Two, we need to be spending money on infrastructure and public safety. And three, we need to regain the confidence of investors and our citizens.”

When asked about their campaign contributions, and who the money comes from, Whitburn made a distinction that developers and political action committees cannot contribute to campaigns, but owners of development companies and individuals can. Atkins took heat from constituents for campaign contributions she received from the owner of the development company behind 301 University.

Whitburn said the majority of money raised for his campaign is coming from activists and community members. Gloria said that as a third generation San Diegan, contributions are coming from supporters who are familiar with him and his work. Lee said he expects most of his money to come from individuals. Hartline said he is getting support from “tremendous relationships with many churches.” And Hartley said he has not taken developers’ dollars so far.

“The money I’m raising is coming from individuals who I work with, who know me and support me to fight these battles,” he said.

After the forum, Gloria and Whitburn, considered front-runners in the early campaign, said they couldn’t be bought.

“In many cases, money that comes from developers is designed to represent the developer’s interests – but not always,” Whitburn said.

“There will be developers in District 3 who live here and support a candidate who they think is best for the district, but it is wise to be watchful.”

Gloria echoed Whitburn’s statement.

“I want to be really clear,” he said. “I can’t be bought. My supporters know me; they know my positions. They know where I stand; they’re familiar with my work. I can’t be bought.”

On medical marijuana:

Whitburn said he would support medical marijuana, which, he said, can be an effective tool to alleviate suffering.

Gloria said he would support medical marijuana, and that the drug is sometimes needed for those with a terminal illness to improve their quality of life.

Hartline said he does not believe legalizing medical marijuana would be prudent, and it could be destructive.

Hartley said he would support medical marijuana.

Lee said he would support a “highly regulated regimen” for the use of medical marijuana.

On the three most important issues to each candidate:

Hartley said infrastructure (streets, sidewalks and sewers), public safety and finance reform/ending a culture of corruption at city hall are his three focuses.

Hartline said a “fundamental change” needs to be made, and the city’s broken moral compass needs to be fixed.

Lee said in neighborhoods he will focus on crime prevention, transportation and economic and small business development. Citywide he will focus on public safety, infrastructure and the pension crisis.

Whitburn said honest government, public safety and affordable housing will be three of his top priorities.

Gloria said infrastructure, public safety and transportation will be at the top if his list.

On infrastructure:

“We need to focus energy on streets, sidewalks, sewers and curbs,” Hartley said. “We need to clean up the city’s finances, stop the sweetheart deals and focus on the city’s physical infrastructure, the public safety infrastructure.”

“Streets and sidewalks are a public safety issue,” Whitburn said.

On protections for senior citizens:

“We need to be sure that the people who want to stay in our neighborhoods have the opportunity to do so,” said Whitburn, who suggested more affordable housing units for seniors.

“This is one of my top priorities,” Hartline said. “Seniors will never be neglected on my watch.”