WHITTIER >> The audience at Wednesday’s Whittier Chamber of Commerce candidate’s forum broke into laughter and applause at one candidate’s response to a question about people feeling uncomfortable walking in Uptown and what should be done.

“I didn’t know it was uncomfortable,” said first-time candidate Brian W. Ahern, one of four men running in the April 8 election for two open seats on the Whittier City Council.

“It’s not Beverly Hills,” he said, sensing the moment. “It could be cleaned up.”

Uptown is “pretty safe,” he said, adding that he didn’t know how to change the public’s perception.

It was the second candidates forum in three days, and one issue that all the candidates agreed on was that Uptown Whittier needs improvement. They disagreed on how to accomplish the job.

Nick Donovan, running for a second time, said he’s stood in the doorsteps with Uptown business owners and seen their storefront windows etched with graffiti. They have to replace windows every three months, he said, asking whether that’s a fair business expense.

He said police or cadets should be on the streets.

Mayor Bob Henderson, running for a seventh consecutive term, said he and his wife feel safe walking the streets of Uptown. The city must be sure future businesses in the Nelles project are complimentary to Uptown, not competitive. He also said the businesses have to take some responsibility for solving Uptown’s problems. He also noted that new gourmet restaurants are opening in Uptown because “they wanted to come here.”

Fernando Dutra, who was appointed to the council in August 2012 and is running for election for the first time, had misgivings about introducing a large police presence in Uptown, saying it signals something wrong to visitors.

“We just appropriated $12 million towards Uptown,” he said.

The money will go toward replacing sidewalks, lights and building a new parking structure “so we can actually build more homes and change the face of Uptown Whittier,” he said. “It’s going to start happening within the next year. It isn’t just pie in the sky stuff.”

Ahern said he’s running for council to represent residents who have limited funds. He decided to run after the city passed water and sewer rate hikes despite the protests of many residents.

“The community is facing financial problems, infrastructure failure, and their answer is ‘well, we need money,’” he said.

“A councilman should be responsive to residents,” he said. “That’s what I plan to do.”

For the second time in three days, Henderson and Dutra defended the work the council has done and the state of the city.

Henderson said the city took the precaution of building up its rainy day fund, which saw it through the recession.

“The city continues to provide services and takes care of its citizens,” he said. “We have wonderful amenities that people have moved here for, and that’s our job on the City Council. And that’s what we do every single day. We make it work.

Dutra said big things are on the horizon for Whittier with its plans to redevelop the former Nelles Youth Correctional Facility and secure a Washington Boulevard light-rail line route.

“I’m excited about the future of this city,” he said. “We have a major development coming to the city of Whittier called Nelles. That’s a big deal for any city in Southern California.”

Donovan continued his attack on the job City Council is doing.

“I have no motive other than to see that the best interests of this city is realized for every citizen of this community,” he said, noting that the city has low voter turnout and is facing a lawsuit by Latino residents who claim they’re underrepresented.

“I think we should move forward,” he said. “We need people that are living in the real world. We need people like myself and others who deal with bigger-picture issues,” he said.

He said one reason City Council may be fighting the lawsuit is they like things the way they are.

“I don’t like things as they are,” Donovan said.

The forum was conducted at the Whittier Masonic Lodge.