The race for a Montgomery County Commission seat heated up this week after comments made by the candidates during a forum that was recorded for broadcast caused the forum’s host to consider not airing the segment on television.

The forum occurred Thursday at the Miami Valley Communications Council offices and featured Montgomery County Commissioner Debbie Lieberman, a Democrat running for re-election, and Kettering City Councilman Ashley Webb, a Republican challenger. The forum was organized by the League of Women Voters of the Greater Dayton Area.

According to Susan Hesselgesser, the League’s executive director, at the end of the 10- to 12-minute segment Webb was asked about what specific project he would like to see accomplished if he were elected. She said Webb’s answer was only briefly on topic before he brought up a 2009 Dayton Daily News report about a federal tax lien totaling $132,565 that named Lieberman’s husband, attorney Dennis Lieberman, as well as Debbie Lieberman.

Hesselgesser said the response went against the league’s policy about sticking to issues and avoiding personal attacks. Webb said his answer to the question was that he would like to eliminate the perception of a lack of integrity in Montgomery County. He cited the Lieberman’s tax issues as well as an August report that county officials did not contact law enforcement when they suspected an employee theft of $5,700. instead allowing the employee to quit her job and pay back the money.

In the 2009 Daily News tax lien report, Dennis Lieberman noted his wife was mentioned on the lien only because they filed a joint income tax return. Debbie Lieberman said Friday her husband was on a payment plan even before the lien was reported and has nearly repaid the balance of the debt.

Rob Scott, chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Party, sent a letter to Hesselgesser on Friday asking that the segment be aired in full. He stated the possibility that the league might not air the forum, or that the league would consult with Lieberman or her campaign before making a decision, would threaten the league’s non-partisan stance. Hesselgesser said the Lieberman campaign would not be consulted on the decision and that the league would not edit the segment if it airs.

“This has never happened,” Hesselgesser said. “Based on this, we will be changing our rules. We’ll have to tighten them up.”

Mark Owens, chairman of the Montgomery County Democratic Party, said a husband’s finances should not be an issue for a woman in an election. Webb said it’s fair game because Debbie Lieberman was also named on the lien.

“Both Commissioner Lieberman and her husband are named on liens on their property,” Webb said. “For an elected official involved in setting tax rates, not paying taxes is an appropriate candidate issue.”

Later at the forum, Debbie Lieberman referenced Webb’s former business, Log-Ops, a freight broker he operated for about six months beginning in January 2011. Webb said Lieberman called it a failed business. Asked what he would call it, he said, “A start-up that didn’t take.”

On Friday, Debbie Lieberman said she had not planned to bring up Log-Ops, but she felt attacked by Webb’s comments. She said Webb has maintained in his campaign that he is a successful businessman, so his business background was a relevant issue.

Debbie Lieberman said she would not be against the segment airing, although she believes the incident went against the spirit of the league’s taped forums.

“This is partisan politics at its worst,” she said. “And, again, he’s attacking me because we’re doing a good job at the county.”

The league’s board will decide today whether the segment will air as scheduled on MVCC on Monday.