Here we are for the final televised debate between the contenders for King County Executive—Susan Hutchison and Dow Constantine—on KIRO television. You can watch on channel 7 or on the station's website. This is a "town hall" style debate in front of a studio audience at Emerald Downs.

It seems that the big challenge for Dow, who has been awkwardly rigid in the previous face-offs, is to come across as a human. Sue, although short on circuits in the attic, has been emotive, relaxed, and generally personable on camera in previous deabtes. Sue's job this time—considering she's leading in polls—is not making any horrible gaffes.

6:00 Looks like the candidates have to stand on stage before the audience without the defense of a desk or a lectern. In his opening statement, Dow looks relaxed, giving his rap about having experience, relationships with folks, and having endorsements from lots of elected officials. He notes that there's a difference in their values: He's pro-choice, pro-environment, and pro-light rail. But he paints Sue as a coat-hanger-abortion-loving asphalt worshipper who has a love affair with Mike Huckabee.

6:03 Sue casts herself as an agent of change and notes that the Seattle Times said her ideas are fresh. She says Dow has misrepresented her ideas—ostensibly she's referring to her position on abortion, the environment—and those ideas aren't even relevant to the race. She derides partisan politics and says she'll bring people together. The county budget is a mess, she continues, and she blames Dow, as chair of the county council. Sue trots out her hackneyed line—first introduced in June—about putting the county on a "meatloaf, not a steak, diet." (That's an old piece of meatloaf.)

6:05 An audience member asks about flooding: Why aren't we earmarking more money for the South Sound, and how will the candidates prioritize funds? Sue says the area is a $23-billion economic engine, and she's knows folks in the South Sound need help. Dow points out that he "chaired that flood district" and he allocated money from other parts of the county budget "into flood prevention and preparation."

6:09 Andrea, a director of the Kent Chamber of Commerce, asks how the candidates will help businesses recover from the monetary impacts of a flood. Dow is up first. He's working with leaders to determine where private and federal insurance protections will fail business owners and to create a "safety net." Susan says she will call in the marines to build up the levee. "Ultimately this is the business of the feds... we have to go to the federal government," she says.

6:14 Sue says the fact that Boeing is considering moving parts of its operation to other parts of the county indicates an "abject failure of state and local government." Her husband works for Boeing, and she calls the company the canary in the coal mine. Dow says he grew up in a neighborhood where "every third house was supported by Boeing." He says that the county executive's ultimate job to retain employers is to make sure transportation infrastructure is in place.

What a dull debate so far. And now... a commercial from Sleep Country USA. Appropriate.

6:18 Matt in the audience asks how they would manage the county budget without gutting their benefits. Dow suggests negotiating less expensive health care plans, such as Group Health, to save the county millions of bucks. Sue notes that Dow has financial backing from 54 unions (which is a bad thing). She says the proper way to negotiate is to "shake hands, butt heads, and shake hands." But the county, she says, has been "shaking hands and then hugging." She says she'll have a labor liaison in her office to solve problems. Her subtext: I will gut all county employee benefits.

6:22 How will you mitigate taxes for businesses? Sue says nonprofits know how to make a dollar stretch. She would require a vote for human services and punt government work over to nonprofits and, essentially, their volunteers. Dow says "you really don't know what the issues are." He says, "I reject the notion that you raise taxes or cut human services."

6:25 A question about how to oversee Sound Transit, preventing it from running overbudget while fulfilling the obligations of the measure passed by voters. Is it just me, or does this South Sound crowd seems to lean heavily on the conservative end of the county's spectrum? The questions are about about cutting union fat, reducing expenses of public agencies, feeding business interests, etc. Not terribly surprising—these are Sue's voters and KIRO is Sue's home turf.

6:27 "Susan needs to try decaf," says stinkbug. No doubt, she's frenetic and running overtime on almost every answer. Dow is mellow without being dull, smooth without being smarmy. It's definitely his best performance yet—but Sue is getting better at deflecting his accusations.

6:30 A John McCain doppelganger asks who they have been talking to in the South Sound and what they talked about. Sue says she talked to several folks, but it she missed some meetings because she was stuck in traffic. She says county government has treated folks outside Seattle with "disdain and disrespect." Dow says that, on the county council, he currently represents Burien, Sea-Tac, and several other suburban cities. Zing. He notes the Sue said we should have never built light rail to the airport. "That's not supporting the people of South King County," he says. Double zing.

6:33 What will you do to facilitate less-glamorous freeway projects between Seattle and Tacoma? Dow says he fought to support the roads-and-transit ballot measure in 2007. He's talking with his hands, and looking at the crowd. Sue keeps saying that Dow has repeatedly misrepresented her. She says he supported a $30 million road in his district.

A Poll: Vote for the candidate you support. (Thanks for the link, MacCrocodile.)

No to be a Seattle-ista, but is this the South King County executive debate? These down-the-rabbit-hole questions are in serious Kent Reporter territory. They're talking—yet again—about the specter of floods. And next... another question about what they will do for the South Sound. Who will be the area's champion? Dow points out that Sue lives in Laurelhurst, in Seattle, but he lives in West Seattle and already represents South King County cities and has support from a zillion people who live there. People in South King County are the only people who matter!

A pet peeve of mine: A podium is something you stand on. So people are not stepping up to the "podium." They are stepping up to a lectern. Thanks for your patience.

6:49 Do you think the public option is a good idea for health-care reform? Dow says yes. It is a great way to drive down costs for the county. Sue gives a convoluted answer about the pitfalls of public policy costing more sometimes. She dodges the question (because she's Republican). A question about improving quality of life while the population grows. Sue says good policy, and Dow dings her for opposing light rail, which contributes to a liveable region.

Closing Statements: Sue says, "If you like budget deficits... then I suggest you vote for the chair of King County Council, my opponent, who is largley reponsible for the mess the county is in." She says she's a nonpartisan, nonpolitician, and the rest of her standard rap about freshness and change. "She says she will bring her experience to bear. Do you know how much that is?" Dow asks, pausing. "None." Dow says he has served in the county and state government since he bought his first Model-T. He points out that she's a pro-life, anti-environment, Republican-funding conservative.

This debate was the dullest yet. They rehashed the same issues they've spoken about again and again—but they seemed evenly matched on television for the first time. Dow was more relaxed. But it's hard to say if the lack of tension is the result of collective election fatigue or if there's just nothing new left to fight about.