One exciting moment of a multi-race political forum on Tuesday night came between a Republican and a Democrat who weren’t running against each other.

A 100-person crowd gathered at the El Pomar Foundation Penrose House to listen to six candidates, from House Districts 17, 18 and 20, debate.

In District 17, incumbent Republican Rep. Mark Barker sat next to Democratic challenger Tony Exum. In District 18, incumbent Democrat Pete Lee was seated next to Republican challenger Jennifer George. And last was incumbent Rep. Bob Gardner, flanked by Democratic opponent Michael Goldsborough.

A wide range of issues, including the state budget, energy and the economy were discussed. But when bipartisanship came up, the audience got mad at Gardner when his tone to incumbent Lee became condescending.

After Lee touted a signature bill of his called “restorative justice,” — a therapeutic program for criminals and victims — Gardner said there “wasn’t anything moderate about the bill.”

“I could have seen to it that bill was killed, but he was a freshman in the minority, and he had good intentions” — Gardner was cut off by the crowd, which booed so loudly that he had to repeat the end of his sentence. “So against my better judgment, I let him work on it for three weeks and bring it back, and it passed unanimously.”

Lee agreed that Gardner let him work on the bill to gain Republican support, and he thanked Gardner for helping him get it passed. The crowd clapped loudly.

Much of the rest of the debate was fairly standard, with the candidates arguing partisan views — the GOPers pushed lower taxes and cutting business regulations, and Dems focused on education and a careful line between government and the free market.

The two parties diverged, for example, on oil and gas regulations, with Republicans saying the industry was over-regulated and Democrats arguing the state needs to closely watch energy companies.

All six favor upping a mitigation cap for state spending for fighting wildfires, from $600,000 to $1.2 million.

All but Lee oppose Amendment 64, a ballot measure to legalize marijuana, and Amendment 65, a ballot question that would require the Colorado congressional delegation to support federal term limits. (Lee said he hadn’t read measure 65 closely enough to decide.)

And George, an otherwise reliable Republican, said she favors civil unions for gay couples. But, she said, the Democratic attempt in the 2012 legislative session to legalize civil unions would have circumvented the state Constitution.

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