In a meeting as spirited as their first, Republican Mayor Allan Fung and Democratic challenger Michael Sepe last week appeared on WPRI’s “Newsmakers” program.

The two echoed themes and traded charges familiar to those who have followed the campaign or watched their first face-off during a forum at the Cranston Public Library earlier this month.

“Cranston needs real change right now, and Allan Fung is incapable of giving us anything except more cover-ups, deception, and political interference,” Sepe said.

He added: “We cannot afford another four years of [an] absentee mayor making political decisions based on his run for governor instead of what is right for taxpayers of Cranston.”

Fung pushed back against what he characterized as “a lot of political rhetoric from a party boss for a number of years.”

“We’ve transformed Cranston from the brink of financial disaster to a vibrant community … We can’t afford to go back to old-style politics, political rhetoric, fiscal mismanagement,” he said. “I want to stay the course.”

The roughly 30-minute appearance, moderated by WPRI’s Tim White and Ted Nesi, touched on a range of topics, from the condition of Cranston’s roads to the controversies that have surrounded the Cranston Police Department over the last two-plus years.

White asked Fung whether voters may have lost trust in him based on the way his management of the police department was characterized in last year’s Rhode Island State Police assessment report.

“I’ve never hid from any of the things that have gone wrong in Cranston, but I’ve also held people accountable,” Fung said, while countering that Sepe “constantly wants to exploit [the police issue] for political purposes.”

The mayor also blasted a report from the council’s auditor outlining costs associated with matters included in the state police report, calling it “ridiculous” and politically motivated. He asserted the figures in that document are inflated as much as eight times over the true costs.

Sepe said in the wake of the late-2013 “Ticketgate” episode, Fung pivoted and asked state police to become involved just minutes before the City Council was set to request that step be taken.

“I think that backfired on you, mayor … they went right through the department,” he said.

Sepe also questioned Fung’s touting of the hiring of Col. Michael Winquist as Cranston’s chief, noting that the mayor, according to the state police report, was willing to have Winquist leave the post just months later during a dispute over a proposed settlement with former Capt. Stephen Antonucci.

In response to a question about the mayor’s “party boss” characterization, Sepe defended his record as a councilman and as chairman of the city’s Democratic Party.

“I don’t know how he would come up with that idea … I think what I did was for the people of the city of Cranston, and I never had any cronyism,” Sepe said.

Fung then reiterated his line of attack, accusing Sepe of wanting to raid the city’s surplus for new programs and referencing the Democrats who preceded him as mayor.

“We can’t go back to the old days of [John] O’Leary and [Michael] Napolitano,” he said.

The partisan back-and-forth continued during discussion of the city’s infrastructure. Nesi referenced the condition of Broad Street, Norwood Avenue, and Park Avenue, asking Fung why more had not been done during his tenure to address ailing roadways.

Fung said $10 million has been spent on road projects under his administration, and he pointed to ongoing utility work – specifically by Providence Water – on the eastern side of the city as having complicated some efforts. He said the city has a road repair plan based on data, and pointed to a $20 million-bond question on the Nov. 8 ballot for roads that would significantly expand resources available for the work.

Sepe countered that the roads in question “should have been done a long time ago.” Referencing Democratic Ward 1 Councilman Steven Stycos, he added: “But, that’s not a political favorite, who represents that area, of Mayor Fung. And that’s why I think the eastern side has been neglected a heck of a lot more than the western side … He has his own political cronies over there. He talks about bosses, he’s the boss of bosses.”

Sepe reiterated his intention to compile a road repair plan based on requests from city council members.

“That’s political cronyism,” Fung countered. “Give me a break.”

Sepe was also asked why he had accepted donations from city employees after having pledged on a previous “Newsmakers” appearance not to do so.

“I don’t know. I really don’t know, and I don’t follow who’s contributing to my campaign because I have a campaign treasurer,” he said. “That’s a mistake that I did, and I should have watched that very carefully.”

Fung said he has openly acknowledged taking donations from municipal employees during his career, and defended the practice.

“I’ve never lied about it. I’ve never made a pledge not to take, you know, money from city employees … unlike my opponent,” he said, adding: “Many of the individuals are supporting me because they believe in what we’re doing for Cranston.”

In an animated back-and-forth, Sepe and Fung also renewed debate over the mayor’s future political plans. After an unsuccessful run in 2014, Fung is widely believed to be again eying the governor’s race in 2018.

During the first meeting between the two candidates earlier this month, Sepe asked Fung to sign a pledge that he would serve all four years of his mayoral term. Fung declined to sign the document.

“That’s an assumption made on other people’s part,” Fung said of his 2018 gubernatorial aspirations. He later added: “The only focus that I have is serving as mayor of Cranston … How much more do I have to say? I’m not going to sign a political gimmick.”

Sepe said Fung’s presence at a recent Newport fundraiser featuring Republican vice presidential candidate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence indicated the mayor was already sewing the seeds for another statewide campaign.

“You avoided the question, mayor,” he said, reprising past criticism that Fung is using his office as a “stepping stone.” He also said if Fung were to win the governor’s office, Cranston voters could face primary and special elections midway through the coming term – and, if a council member were to win the mayor’s office, additional ballots to fill that vacancy as well.

“This is going to be another taxpayer expense to the people of the city of Cranston,” Sepe said.

During a rapid-response round, the candidates gave their stance on several issues.

Sepe said he favors body cameras for police, while Fung said he remains on the fence and is discussing the issue with Winquist. Both said they are opposed to the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. Sepe said he favors driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants provided they have insurance, while Fung said he is opposed to that policy.

Sepe said he is backing House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello in the high-profile District 15 race, while Fung said he supports Republican Steve Frias.

Asked if he continues to support Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, Fung said: “I am voting for the Republican nominee. As everyone knows, he wasn’t my first choice. But the bottom line is this, I would not like the direction that his opponent, Hillary Clinton, would bring this country.” He did say he “absolutely [has] a concern” regarding Trump’s remarks about, and alleged behavior toward, women.

Sepe was asked about accepting a campaign donation from embattled state Rep. John Carnevale, who is not seeking re-election following revelations that he does not make his primary residence in his own district.

“I didn’t see any problem accepting his donation,” Sepe said, adding: “I think he did the right thing [by withdrawing his re-election candidacy].”

The candidates were asked about their positions on panhandling, an issue on which the city has faced legal challenges from the American Civil Liberties Union.

Sepe has criticized an ordinance amendment brought forward by the mayor that seeks to make a formal distinction between the sidewalk and roadway in order to help curb the activity. Sepe additionally proposed creating a program to put panhandlers to work. Fung has presented his proposed measure – which was held for further study by the council’s Ordinance Committee – as focused on public safety.

On “Newsmakers,” Sepe outlined a concept for an ordinance that closely resembles the one proposed by Fung. When questioned by White about the apparent inconsistency in his position, Sepe said he wants to pass the issue on to the state so the cost of litigating the matter is not borne solely by Cranston taxpayers.

“I think the state has more lawyers than the city of Cranston … It’s a statewide issue,” he said.

Fung responded: “You know, so, he just proved my point that it was politics at its worst … The Democrats just pulled their support because opposed that bill. Now all of a sudden we’re hearing on ‘Newsmakers’ that he wants to make it a statewide issue.” The mayor also defended the constitutionality of his proposal.

The WPRI debate was the last joint appearance scheduled between Fung and Sepe before the election. Mattiello and Frias are set to appear on the Nov. 4 edition of “Newsmakers.”