Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton is forcefully fighting for her political career in the final days before the election. Squaring off against challenger R.T. Rybak at a Minnesota Public Radio forum Sunday night, Sayles Belton questioned Rybak's promise to shun campaign donations by those with business interests in City Hall. She also strongly defended her administration against Rybak's accusation that the city is mismanaged.

	Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton defended her record during a debate Sunday night, refuting criticism from her opponent that she has mismanaged the city's finances. (MPR Photo/Art Hughes) LISTEN TO THE DEBATE Listen online to the entire Minneapolis mayoral debate.

The self-described "workhorse" of City Hall, DFLer Sayles Belton says the city needs more than just "flash and dash," an obvious dig at Rybak's energetic style on the campaign trail. After more than 20 public debates, Sayles Belton mined new territory by questioning Rybak's campaign contributions. Rybak, also a DFLer, promised to not accept money from political action committees or people with financial interests with the city. Sayles Belton says he hasn't lived up to his strict standards.

"All anybody has to do is go pick up your report. I'm just saying you going to challenge somebody, you just need to live up to your own rhetoric. Integrity is important in this game and I'm not going to let you get away with it anymore," Sayles Belton said.

One of the names Sayles Belton listed is Richard Varda, who gave Rybak's campaign $250. Varda is a designing architect for Ellerbee Becket, which has worked on projects receiving public financing from the city. Rybak counters that the mayor's campaign war chest is nearly three times his own and much more tied to potential conflicts.

"More than $10,000 have been sent back to contributors and tens of thousand dollars more has been rejected because we have set an unprecedented standard that has not been set in any city in America. There are $10,000 alone from people involved in the $62 million subsidy of the Target project. $10,000 in contributors that you took. That's before the primary," Rybak said.

Rybak didn't say whether he'd return any of the donations the mayor questioned. When asked about them later, he called the accusations "a stretch."

Both candidates say the city has a role in keeping the Twins in Minnesota, but it's not the highest priority. The team could be dissolved within the week if Major League Baseball decides to eliminate two teams.

Sayles Belton says she's talked recently to team owner Carl Pohlad to encourage him to keep the team here. But she says it won't happen if the city has to pay a third of the cost for a new stadium.

"These are not pleasant conversations to have because nobody wants to love this baby. But I will tell you something: the Minnesota Vikings, the Minnesota Twins, the Wild all have their place in a vital and strong community. It's just not at the front of the line," Sayles Belton said.

Rybak agrees the city has higher financial priorities. He says the team owner and the league should not threaten the city to try to get money for a stadium. But he says the city should have found a viable solution by now.

	Minneapolis mayoral candidate R.T. Rybak responded to criticism from Sayles Belton over his campaign contributions. Rybak promised to not accept money from political action committees or people with financial interests with the city. Sayles Belton says he hasn't lived up to his strict standards. (MPR Photo/Art Hughes)