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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- The chance for voters to choose who will be the city's first strong mayor is finally here.

There are eight candidates remaining in the race, seven of which gathered for a forum Tuesday afternoon.

Kenneth Duncan said he wasn't able to attend because of a family emergency.

The seven others took advantage of the time to share with the crowd their ideas on how to get Colorado Springs back on track.

"We can't mess around with our economy. We need a mayor who is gonna focus full time on growing jobs in the city," candidate Dave Munger said.

Munger said he knows how to make Colorado Springs attractive to new businesses and wants to grow jobs by using assets that are already here.

"I think we can do a lot more to grow jobs in the community by letting our city-owned assets like Memorial, like utilities, like the airport in particular, letting all those three operate in a more businesslike fashion that will allow them to expand their business and also then create jobs," Munger said.

Some with political backgrounds said their experience within the city gives them an advantage over the other candidates.

"Well I've been there before, and I'm a small business guy, and I think those are both really important," Richard Skorman, a former city council member, said. "It's gonna be a big job, this new strong mayor, new council and somebody needs to be able to hit the ground running."

Skorman said he wants to make city government more efficient, more business friendly, and wants to make Colorado Springs a city that's bigger and broader than ever before.

Tom Gallagher, a current city council member, said he won't have to waste time learning the ropes.

"I'm the one that's been in the game. I encourage people to check out my voting record. We're going down the wrong road folks, we have been for the last eight years," Gallagher said. "I think based on last November's decision most of the people in this community think we're going down the wrong road too. What you get with me is saving time. I know what rock to leave alone, which one to turn over, and which ones to scrape, and which ones to throw away."

Other candidates said it's time for a change, and they aren't afraid to make it happen.

"I'm the type of person and I am the person that will make the hard choices, the hard decisions as needed," candidate Mitch Christiansen said. "I'm not gonna kick the can down the road, I'm not going to fool around with it. It's gotta be fixed, and we've gotta have it done and I want to do what I can in four years to get as much of it done as possible."

Christiansen said he learned "common sense" from his grandfather and that's what the city needs.

"We just have to get everything under control," he said. "There's just not any option to it anymore. We're very close to having some severe problems."

Buddy Gilmore called himself the "how candidate."

"It's the most important small word that you can address during this election," Gilmore said. "If a candidate says they're going to create jobs or bring jobs to the city, ask them how. Ask them how they're gonna make government more efficient, ask them how they're going to pull us together in a better sense of community. I'm the guy that will tell you how to do that."

Gilmore added he can bring fresh ideas to the table and has already brought jobs to Colorado Springs in his own business.

"I'm the guy that has the energy that you're looking for to be the greatest cheerleader in the world for our city, Colorado Springs, because we are America the beautiful," Gilmore said.

Brian Bahr told the crowd that the city needs to get back to the basics and prioritize its spending, focusing on public safety, infrastructure and parks.

"I have a bold vision and a practical plan to help Colorado Springs become an exceptional world class city with a strong economy, improving cities and investment in the future," he said.

Bahr, founder of Challenger Homes, said he wants to bring the leadership he has had in the private sector to the city.

Steve Bach outlined a three step plan that included transforming city government, creating more jobs, and building alliances with the state, all without raising taxes.

One thing all candidates did agree on is that voters' voices must be heard.

"You can't underestimate the importance of this election, and I hope everybody is getting a ballot in their hands and have registered. Let's have a terrific turn out," Gilmore said.

"It's all about believing in your community and believing in yourself and understanding that government succeeds only when its citizens succeed," Gallagher said. "And you need to know that it's okay to believe in yourself and have pride in your community. If we can't get that, we're dead in the water."

This election is mail-in only.