Candidates’ Forum Marked by Attacks, Theatrics

The candidates for mayor of Los Angeles sparred in a carnival-like forum Saturday that prompted roars of laughter but ultimately left many spectators dissatisfied with the field’s solutions for correcting the city’s most pressing problems.

Crime, the economy and blight were frequently overshadowed by theatrics as some of the mayoral candidates who were not invited interrupted the debate, prompting security guards and the moderator, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles), to struggle for control.

“This whole thing is out of order,” candidate Larry Green shouted at Waters when she asked security to remove him from the dais. Another uninvited candidate, John Boranda, also took a seat, prompting several guards to escort him from the front of the auditorium at the Museum of Science and Industry at Exposition Park.

Sponsored by a coalition of African-American community groups, the forum centered on the issues of joblessness and crime in South-Central Los Angeles. But the event also turned into a debate about democracy and whether all 24 candidates who qualified for the April ballot ought to be invited to appear at such events.

“To those who we have never seen in the community, we really don’t care that you are concerned about not being invited on this stage,” Waters said bluntly.

Adding to the raucous atmosphere were candidates’ attacks on each other. When Michael Woo was knocked for neglecting Hollywood, he responded by saying that crime has increased on buses during Nick Patsaouras’ tenure on the Rapid Transit District and in Councilman Joel Wachs’ district during his tenure.

Julian Nava, a former school board member, prompted the angriest audience reaction when he attacked someone not even in the race--entertainer Bill Cosby, who has endorsed attorney Stan Sanders. Nava said Cosby and other luminaries should be using their great wealth to help the city throughout the year, not just at election time.

The crowd booed him down and Waters defended Cosby as well, saying: “Mr. Cosby is one of those who has given a tremendous amount.”

In an effort to stop the sniping, one questioner asked the candidates to identify what it is about one of their rivals’ platforms that they most support. The candidates then lauded each other for a change, with most of the praise going to Patsaouras’ transportation initiatives, Wachs’ plan to create neighborhood councils and a proposal by Leonard Shapiro to create a commission to investigate government waste.