VENTURA : Political Forum for Candidates Planned
The Ventura Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a political forum Thursday for candidates in the Ventura City Council race.
All 14 candidates have said they will attend, said Ted Temple, coordinator for the chamber.
Candidates will make brief speeches and field questions from the audience, Temple said. The chamber’s political action committee will conduct private interviews later and make endorsements next month, Temple said.
In the last city election two years ago, the chamber played an influential role in electing the slate of Mayor Gregory L. Carson, Councilmen Tom Buford and Jack Tingstrom. The chamber spent thousands of dollars in advertisements supporting the three candidates, who promised to make the city more friendly to business interests.
Chamber officials said they intend to take an active part in this year’s elections as well. The political action committee has been raising money for months and plans to spend about $16,000 supporting candidates.
Four seats on the Ventura City Council are open this November, and candidates last week filed nomination papers. Three incumbents--Councilmen James Monahan, Todd Collart and Gary Tuttle--are running for reelection. Councilwoman Cathy Bean will not run for another term.
The forum will be held at 7 p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura. For more information, contact Temple at 653-5071.
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