Wright Agrees to Debate Braly in Republican Assembly Race

Republican Assemblywoman Cathie Wright of Simi Valley agreed Wednesday to debate her GOP challenger, Hunt Braly, after Braly charged that she had dodged previous debate proposals.

At a news conference, Braly challenged Wright to a series of 12 debates leading up to the June 5 GOP primary election. Wright’s campaign manager, Mark Thompson, said later that Wright will debate Braly but “certainly not 12 times.”

“There’s no need to,” said Thompson. “There’s not 12 places in this district where you can debate.”

Braly’s candidacy is the most serious challenge Wright has faced since her 1980 election in the heavily Republican 37th Assembly District, which sprawls across parts of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties from Agoura Hills to Lompoc.

Braly, the top aide to state Sen. Ed Davis (R-Valencia), launched his campaign last May after Ventura County Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury charged that Wright had repeatedly interceded with local judges and police and state motor vehicle officials on behalf of her daughter, Victoria.

Victoria Wright, then 24, faced jail or the loss of her driver’s license after accumulating 28 traffic tickets over several years.

Braly complained that the assemblywoman had shrugged off three debate invitations in recent weeks, including one from the Agoura Hills Rotary Club.

Thompson said the Rotary Club invitation was turned down after Wright’s campaign discovered that the club official who issued it was a Braly campaign contributor.

Braly responded that Wright probably had supporters in the Rotary Club as well and that the proposed ground rules for the event favored neither candidate.

Braly added that he was pleased that Wright had accepted his challenge but said she had not agreed to a specific timetable.