ELECTIONS : Candidates Trade Jabs at Forum

Candidates for state and federal offices traded verbal jabs Friday during a political forum at Oxnard College.

About 100 students and other observers crammed into a small lecture hall to quiz candidates vying to represent Ventura County in the 23rd Congressional District, 19th state Senate District and the 37th Assembly District.

The liveliest exchange came when Oxnard Mayor Nao Takasugi, Republican nominee for the Assembly seat, squared off against Democratic opponent Roz McGrath in a debate over abortion rights.

Both candidates have won the endorsement of a statewide abortion-rights group, but McGrath questioned the degree of Takasugi’s commitment.

“I hear lip service, I don’t see action,” McGrath said.

Takasugi repeated his pro-choice position but said he would rather not discuss the issue.

“I don’t believe this pro-choice, pro-life issue is an issue at the state level,” Takasugi said. That statement prompted the forum moderator from the League of Women Voters to interrupt and declare abortion to be an issue worthy of discussion by prospective state legislators.

“Is that your unbiased position?” an audience member shouted at the moderator.

McGrath then interrupted: “I believe pushing this under the table is not appropriate.”

In the 23rd Congressional District, an anticipated showdown between Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) and Democratic challenger Anita Perez Ferguson of Oxnard never materialized because Congress was in session and Gallegly was in Washington.

Gallegly notified forum organizers Thursday that he would not be able to attend. However, Assistant Dist. Atty. Colleen Toy White read a brief statement from Gallegly apologizing for his absence and listing his accomplishments.

Perez Ferguson took the opportunity to fire off a few verbal shots. She was asked her position on the North American Free Trade Agreement.

“It’s an agreement that is devised to be as empty as the chair next to me,” she said referring to the place where Gallegly was supposed to be. “We have to have an agreement that respects and protects its workers, and the current agreement doesn’t do that.”

Libertarian candidate Jay Wood was on hand to blast Gallegly and Perez Ferguson.

“You can’t throw the rascals out by replacing a rascal with another rascal,” Wood said. “There are too many strings attached to both of them.”

Perez Ferguson vowed not to get caught up in Washington politics.

“I’m a woman who knows how to balance her own budget,” she said. “Let’s go to Washington, D.C., and balance the budget there. To make a change in the country, we have to make a change in Congress.”

In the 19th state Senate District, Republican nominee Cathie Wright and Democratic challenger Henry Starr were asked about the recent state budget cuts and their effect on education.

“I’m deeply disturbed by the way the budget has been handled,” Starr said. “One of my first priorities will be to save schools and save education.”

Wright said because money will continue to be scarce, education issues must be re-examined.

“We have to look at a new way of approaching education,” said Wright, a 12-year assemblywoman. “We have to be innovative, and we need to make sure money is spent in the classroom.”