WEEKEND TV : D.A., Senate Candidates Clamor on Airwaves

Television does its civic duty in preparation for Tuesday’s primary elections.

Today at 4:30 p.m., Channel 2’s “Newsmakers” airs a debate between the candidates for district attorney. Incumbent Ira Reiner, Gil Garcetti, Sterling Norris and Robert Tannenbaum will all be on hand to argue their cases.

Channel 2 will also present a report on the four U.S. Senate races in California, “Senate Campaign ‘92: Issues and Answers,” Sunday at 11 a.m.

Meanwhile, the Republican candidates for the six-year U.S. Senate seat held by retiring Democratic Sen. Alan Cranston will debate Sunday at 7 p.m. (28), 10 p.m. (15)(24)(50). Rep. Tom Campbell, Bruce Herschensohn and Sonny Bono are scheduled to appear.

C-SPAN will focus on this same race with a two-hour look at the candidates and the issues today at 6 p.m. The cable network will then examine the Democratic race for Cranston’s seat--contested by Rep. Barbara Boxer, Rep. Mel Levine and Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy--in a similar special Sunday at 6 p.m.

Early-risers can catch former Gov. Jerry Brown, campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination, on Channel 4’s “News Conference” Sunday at 6:30 a.m. And Ross Perot, who is not on Tuesday’s California ballot but has been in the headlines as much, or more, than any of the actual presidential contenders, is interviewed today at 6 p.m. on CNN’s “Both Sides With Jesse Jackson.”