Candidates Clock In on Transit, Schools at Forum

In a challenge to a profession not known for brevity, candidates at a political forum in North Hollywood on Friday were given only 60 seconds to respond.

But undeterred by the clock ticking at their elbows, the seven candidates from the 41st and 42nd Assembly districts--speaking at a forum sponsored by the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn. and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce--managed to steer almost every speaking opportunity toward the topic of education.

Addressing residents who must spend a lot of time in their cars, candidates for the March 7 primary also opined about how to eliminate gridlock on local roadways.

Perhaps surprisingly, only David Freeman--who has taken a two-month leave of absence from his post as the head of the city’s Department of Water and Power to run for the 41st Assembly seat--mentioned the word “secession.”

“Whether for or against secession, I think it is a significant issue,” Freeman said in his opening. “When I am on the other end of the line, and secession is on your minds, you can talk to me.”

As the head of the utility that presents perhaps the most complex obstacle for Valley secessionists, in the past Freeman has told those who want to break away that secession will not result in cheaper government services.

The four candidates vying for the 41st Assembly seat being vacated by Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica)--who has been term-limited out--fielded questions first.

The district includes Santa Monica, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Calabasas, Agoura Hills and parts of Woodland Hills.

Freeman said if elected he would work to expand light-rail access to take pressure off the freeways.

Brenda Gottfried, a three-term Santa Monica/Malibu school board member, agreed, adding that she wanted something like the Big Blue Bus--local transit in Santa Monica--to come to the Valley.

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Fran Pavley, a teacher in the Moorpark Unified School District and a founder of Agoura Hills who has served on the City Council there for 15 years, said she would widen the interchange of the San Diego and Ventura freeways and increase public transit.

Tony Vazquez, a former Santa Monica City Council member who ran the United Way in the Valley for years, said he too would work on regional transportation solutions and encourage the expansion of light rail.

Jayne Murphy Shapiro, the only Republican candidate in the 41st Assembly District who attended the forum, said people have a right to use cars and voiced opposition to expansion of public transportation. The founder of the nonprofit safety advocacy group Kid Safe said Caltrans needs better oversight.

“Every time I think of the MTA I see money thrown away,” she said.

All four candidates said education would be a top priority, and said the state must somehow find more money for schools and to attract better teachers.

In the race in the neighboring 42nd Assembly District, a liberal stronghold where winning the Democratic primary is tantamount to winning in November, no candidates from other parties attended.

The incumbent in the district, Wally Knox (D-Los Angeles), is locked in a contest for state Senate against Kuehl. The district includes Beverly Hills, Hancock Park and the San Fernando Valley communities of Sherman Oaks, Universal City and Studio City.

Of the three candidates, only the Valley activist, Amanda Susskind, endorsed the breakup of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

“I’m a local-control girl,” she said.

Veteran West Hollywood City Councilman Paul Koretz said he did not think carving up the school system would solve the city’s problems.

Beverly Hills physician Daniel Stone took more of a wait-and-see attitude.

“As an internist, my recommendation for surgery is almost always no,” he quipped, adding that he thought a proposed reform plan deserved a temporary chance, but if things did not turn around quickly, he would advocate a breakup.

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VICA organizers seemed to think of the forum as a boot camp of sorts for time-constrained candidates--some of whom are venturing into politics for the first time.

“I know none of you liked it [the 60-second limit],” an organizer said at the conclusion of the luncheon. “But that’s how you get your sound bites down.”