Tensions flared during Candidate's Night Thursday evening as two sitting selectmen asked critical questions of Sewer Commissioner and candidate for re-election Marilyn Jordan, and the candidates for Town Clerk had to be reminded that personal attacks would not be allowed.

The event was the first of two candidates forums in advance of Tuesday's election. Candidates for Selectman will debate tonight at 7 p.m. in a program that WCTV will be broadcast on channels 30 (Verizon) and 9 (Comcast).

Selectmen Peter Teitelbaum and Alan Slavin took the opportunity of the Thursday open forum to direct sharp questions toward current Board of Sewer Commissioners member Marilyn Jordan.

Teitelbaum called the system of charging for sewer usage on the basis of Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDU) rather than water usage "foolish.”

This is not the first time tensions have risen between Jordan and the Board of Selectmen, whom she publicly criticized last October during a Sewer Commissioners meeting. Recently, Teitelbaum characterized Article 19 -- a Jordan-led "citizens petition" asking Town Meeting to strengthen the authority of the Sewer Commission -- as “wasteful” and the result of a “private vendetta.”

Article 19, which Teitelbaum contends would result in the creation of a separate district for sewer use, got a lot of attention at the debate. Peter Dunlop, who is challenging Jordan for her seat on the commission, took a firm stand against it.

But later, when asked by an audience member why people should vote for him, Dunlop stumbled for a few minutes before replying, “I don't know how to answer that.”

Town Clerk  Mary Ann Silva and challenger Loren Franklin got personal during the discussion, breaking a rule set by WCTV Executive Director Steve Ruiz at the beginning of the event.

“There will be no personality questions,” said Ruiz. “Try to stick to the job as much as possible.”

Discussion began within this boundary, but began heating up with a question about accountability. Silva spoke about the long hours she's put into the job and claimed that she doesn't “take advantage of this position.” Franklin countered that “the town clerk can make their own rules because they are accountable to no one.”

The discussion reached its boiling point when the issue of Franklin's previous employment by Silva was raised.

Franklin worked at the Town Clerk's office at the end of last year but was let go within three months. She has stated that the reason was because she took a sick leave due to a stomach virus. At the discussion, Silva claimed that there were many reasons for Franklin's termination and that “if Ms Franklin would like her to, [she] could list the reasons.”

Earlier in the Town Clerk portion of the program, Selectman candidate Michael Frate complained that his request for a voter registry this year resulted in an unusable document provided by the Clerk's office.

In comments about the overall operation of the Town Clerk's office, Franklin talked about the need to bring the office into the 21st century. Silva invited the audience to come see the limitations in the office that prevent a more efficient system.

Also on the program was the School Committee race, in which incumbent Rhonda Veugen is being challenged by former Wareham School District employee Mary Morgan.

Morgan said the town has a failing school system and said the problem lies in a lack of support systems for struggling children.

Veugen had high praise for the Wareham school system, and said, “I believe in a support system for our children to be challenged.”

Claire Smith, uncontested candidate for re-election as Town Moderator, was the first to speak at Candidate's Night.

“I'd like to see electronic voting in Wareham,” she said. Smith supports a request that Town Meeting assemble a committee to study the subject. “I'm excited about that. I think the time has come,” she said.

Read more about the questions asked and answers received during the School Committee debate, the Town Clerk debate, and the Board of Sewer Commissioners debate.