Solariums are intended to allow their occupants to enjoy sunlight, but by the time of yesterday's forum it was dark outside and the blinds were drawn.

It didn't matter. There still was plenty of heat for the candidates to absorb from a crowd of about 160 affluent Center City apartment dwellers, representing the Washington Square Citizens Association.

Republican Katz was sharply questioned about his support for school vouchers.

One woman told him that diverting public money to vouchers for private schools would take funds from the poorest public schools that require it.

"I think we punish the people that need it most in those schools," the woman said.

Katz reiterated his campaign pledge that as mayor he would not back any voucher system that does not also provide additional money for Philadelphia's public schools. He also reiterated his position that Philadelphia's support for vouchers can be used as a lever to extract more money from Gov. Ridge and the GOP-controlled legislature.

Ridge has been trying unsuccessfully for years to get a pilot voucher program through the legislature.

Katz said any pilot program in the city would have to operate on a means-tested basis. He said he did not see it applying to children of middle-class families.

"I know that for many of you this is an important issue," Katz said, "and I know that for some of you it may be the only issue."

When another questioner suggested just taking whatever state money would go to vouchers and using it to improve public schools, Katz lectured: "Sylvia, we can't get any more money!"

"I hear what you're saying," Katz said. "I just think you're ignoring the politics."

Katz said a deal on vouchers was the best way to get the Republicans in Harrisburg to vote more money for the city's schools.

"All you sitting there shaking your heads, shaking your hearts, all you tell me how we get the votes," said Katz.

Street, who spoke after Katz, got waylaid by a questioner who wanted to know what he would do to cut the number of court workers in the city who do no real work.

When Street responded that because of court rulings it was impossible for the mayor to cut the city's court budget, the questioner, a woman who works in the court system, cited other city departments that are under the city's control.

"I can tell you three people with $50,000 jobs whose jobs can be cut. They don't do anything," she said.

Street responded by assuring the audience that under his and Rendell's leadership, city employment had been slashed.

"We are reducing the size of government," said Street. "We have cut people."