Candidates Aim Barbs at Wealthy Opponent

In the first campaign forum between first-term Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) and his five challengers Saturday, millionaire businessman Randy Hoffman took the brunt of the attacks.

Hoffman, a Republican newcomer who leads the fund-raising race thanks to $425,000 in loans to himself, was accused by Sherman and a fellow Republican, Joe Gelman, of having no opinions on tough policy issues.

“We don’t need plastic or fluff,” said Gelman, a former newspaper columnist. “We don’t want someone dangling a checkbook in front of you.”

Hoffman, who has the support of House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas) and other Republicans in Congress, took the criticism in stride, saying, “You know that your campaign is moving in the right direction when all the other candidates attack you.”

The forum, hosted by the Reform Party of Ventura County, attracted about 40 people to the Thousand Oaks Library.

Sherman, a former accountant and member of the State Board of Equalization, was elected in 1996 to represent a district that stretches from the west San Fernando Valley to eastern Ventura County.

The race for Sherman’s seat is expected to be one of the hottest and most expensive contests in the campaign season. The Republican party has already named Sherman one of the top 10 incumbents in the nation that the party wants to unseat this year.

The 24th Congressional District is considered a “swing district” with about 45% of the voters registered Democrats and 39% Republicans.

Before the event began, organizers warned the candidates to refrain from attacking each other, urging them instead to discuss their opinions on several national issues.

For the most part, the candidates did just that, expressing their opinion on the North American Free Trade Agreement, term limits, campaign finance reform and the federal budget.

All five candidates said some kind of campaign finance reform was needed but could not agree on any particular measure. They debated the merits of a reform bill sponsored by Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz) and Russell D. Feingold (D-Wis.).

But even discussion of that bill prompted heated words.

Sherman, who supported the McCain-Feingold Bill, challenged the other candidates to sign a pledge to limit their campaign spending in the general election to $500,000 or less.

That limit would work to Sherman’s advantage because it would blunt Hoffman’s ability to self-fund his campaign.

None of his opponents accepted Sherman’s challenge during the forum, but afterward Gelman and Republican candidate William Westmiller said they would take the pledge if they win the primary.

Hoffman said only that he will consider it after the primary.

During the same discussion, Sherman attacked Hoffman for failing to take a position on the campaign reform bill, which has been shelved by the Senate.

“The job is to vote on specific pieces of legislation,” Sherman said. “Hoffman refuses to tell you where he stands on the McCain-Feingold bill.”

Hoffman said he needs to study the bill further before taking a stand.

When asked about term limits for members of Congress, Hoffman, Sherman and Gelman agreed that some limits were needed. But Sherman and Gelman said they would support limits only if they are in each state across the country.

Westmiller said he opposes term limits but has voluntarily pledged to seek only three two-year terms, if elected.

Erich Miller, the Libertarian candidate, and Ralph Shroyer, the Peace and Freedom candidate, stayed clear of the contention among the major party candidates, focusing instead on the questions raised in the forum.

Shroyer, a former schoolteacher, said he supports government financing for campaigns to eliminate the influence of special interests and big business.

Miller, a businessman and musician, talked about cutting government bureaucracy and reducing the need for high taxes.

“I’m trying to represent new ideas,” he said.

National Law Party candidate Catherine Carter did not attend the event.

Sherman, who called himself a moderate, said he spent his first two years in Washington fighting to improve the education system and the environment and to cut bureaucracy.

In his closing remarks, Hoffman repeatedly referred to his “real world experience” as the co-founder of Magellan Systems, a San Dimas-based firm that makes global satellite navigational devices. It is this firm that helped Hoffman create a personal net worth that is reportedly between $2 million and $7 million.

“This election is about leading America and this district into the 21st century,” he said. “Who is best equipped to lead us? Somebody who has real world experience.”

Gelman was quick to attack Hoffman, characterizing him as a “Johnny-come-lately” and accusing Hoffman of becoming active in community organizations only after deciding to run for Congress.

After the event, Hoffman shrugged off Gelman’s charges, saying his biggest contribution to the community was creating hundreds of jobs through his high-tech business.

“Creating jobs is a major accomplishment,” he said.