One of the sharpest exchanges of the Lawrence City Commission race Wednesday served to highlight the fact that only two of the six candidates live east of Kasold Drive.

The comments came during closing statements Wednesday at a candidate forum sponsored by Barker, Brook Creek and East Lawrence neighborhood associations, all of which are located east of Massachusetts Street.

David Schauner told the audience that though he lives in West Lawrence, his heart is with “city core” neighborhoods near Massachusetts Street. And he challenged listeners to examine the list of campaign contributors to see if they thought other candidates felt the same way.

He suggested candidates with significant support from developers — Greg DiVilbiss, Lee Gerhard and Lynn Goodell — wouldn’t be as concerned about such neighborhoods.

“I don’t have big-money development interests funding my campaign,” Schauner said. “Let’s find out the truth of people’s positions, stated and unstated.”

Most of the candidates ignored the remarks, but DiVilbiss took up the challenge. He acknowledged that developers — including his father, Phil — have contributed to his campaign. But, he says, “developer” is not a dirty word.

“I happen to believe Lawrence is as great as it is because of developers,” DiVilbiss said. “Where you live was built by a developer — this whole city.”

DiVilbiss added: “David’s heart may be in the core of the city, but his backside is in (West Lawrence.)”

So, in fact, are the backsides of most of the candidates:

¢See more on the city commission candidates and vote in our candidate selector

• DiVilbiss lives at in the 1900 block of Carmel, just east of Wakarusa Drive and north of Clinton Parkway.
• Gerhard lives in the 1600 block of Alvamar, south of 15th Street and west of Kasold Drive.
• Goodell lives in the 5900 block of Longleaf Drive, west of Wakarusa north of 15th Street.
• Schauner lives in the 5000 block of Jeffries Court, southwest of 15th Street and Wakarusa.

Only Mike Rundle and Dennis “Boog” Highberger live in the older part of Lawrence — Rundle rents in the 600 block of Indiana Street; Highberger owns a house in the 1300 block of Vermont Street.

The election is April 1. The top three vote-getters will take terms on the commission.