HANSVILLE — As residents packed into the Greater Hansville Area Community Center for a candidates forum Wednesday night, many were ready to bake the politicians just like the pies that were served before the debate began. And, as U.S. District 1 Rep. challenger Larry Ishmael said, as long as the lemon meringue pie was there, he’d show up to any event the Hansville community was holding.

The forum quickly rolled onto business, and following introductions, the questions were sprinkled on the candidates like flour on dough. HCC president Lynn Hix served as the moderator, asking the audience’s questions and ensuring the one-minute limit for answers was followed.

With nine politicians present, she was busy doing so for most of the forum.

Questions ranged from health care to ferry costs to the 11th-hour mudslinging that was taking place between campaigns in the race to win the election.

Many questions revolved around health care, leading Hix to ask candidates about their general version of a working health care system in America.

“Universal health care is not on the table for next year,” said Position 1, 23rd District Rep. Sherry Appleton. “We are working on covering all children by 2010, I think that is possible.”

Earl Johnson, her opponent, said he wasn’t sure how to answer the question.

“Can government do anything about health care? And should it?” Johnson asked. “There’s little it can do between a doctor and a patient. Right now, health care is so overregulated it’s killing the marketplace.”

The next question concerned the latest round of negative campaigning.

“It’s frustrating because it does work,” said Kitsap County Commissioner candidate Josh Brown, referring to an article run in the Bremerton Sun questioning his educational background. “People are hurt by it.”

“My mom gave me some basic advice,” said county commissioner candidate Jack Hamilton. “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”

He left his answer at that.

“This is a question for Beverly Woods and Jack Hamilton,” Hix said. “Do you consider yourselves to be environmentalists?”

Hix continued, asking the two about policies that have been put into place that do not favor the government.

“Yes, of course, I’m an environmentalist, and I no longer beat my wife anymore,” Hamilton, who is a staunch supporter of property owners’ rights, joked at the double-edged question. “Yeah, I do consider myself an environmentalist.”

“If you take a good look at my voting record, I am one of the top 10 people in my caucus that votes for the environment,” Position 2 23rd District Rep. Bev Woods said, adding that she is very concerned with the direction in which Puget Sound is headed. “A lot of people think Puget Sound is healthy, and it’s not.”

Hix also asked what the candidates would do to provide funding to lower ferry fares.

Woods said she’s worked on boards to try and increase funding for ferries. She also currently works on the ferry financing committee and is trying to bring fares down to an acceptable price again.

“I’ve done my part to raise money for the ferries. I pay the fare,” Johnson said. “We need to start by firing people in the ferry system, and take a top down view to solving this problem.”

Hamilton agreed, saying that the first step is to “take the ferry system out of the control of the people who run it now.”

“We have one of the largest ferry systems in the country, if not the largest,” said 23rd District Position 2 challenger Christine Rolfes. “We also have the oldest boats in the system, four of which don’t meet Coast Guard regulations. These are not Kitsap County boats, but we do need to find a way to gain money to get rid of this antiquated system.”