Rogan, Schiff Set Date for Debate in Congressional Race

Locked in one of the most closely watched congressional races in the country, Rep. James Rogan (R-Glendale) and state Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) finally agreed Thursday to meet in their first debate Sept. 15, even as the two contenders dueled from a distance over who has more endorsements from law enforcement.

Rogan, who is seeking his third term in Congress, will face off against challenger Schiff at the forum, sponsored by the Regional Coalition of Government Review Councils, a group of Chamber of Commerce officials from throughout the 27th Congressional District.

The highly anticipated event, which follows months of bickering between the candidates about where and when they will meet, is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the Flintridge Preparatory School in La Canada Flintridge, said Susan Bowers, executive director of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce and a member of the coalition.

“It’s going to be the first time we have had the candidates side-by-side to answer questions,” Bowers said.

Supporters are calling it a candidate forum, and not a debate, because each politician will address the business group and not each other.

But the format does provide “a chance for the candidates to confront each other on the issues,” said Ted Osthelder, the campaign manager for Schiff. Or as Rogan campaign manager Jason Roe put it: “This gives us an opportunity to clarify the distortions of the Schiff campaign about Jim Rogan’s record.”

The announcement comes just a few weeks after Schiff bowed out of an Aug. 18 forum sponsored by radio station KPCC-FM (89.3), citing obligations to attend a legislative session in Sacramento.

The bitter race is likely to become one of the most expensive House races in history, with the two candidates so far receiving a combined $7.5 million.

Their attendance at the forum is the only thing the two campaigns agreed on Thursday.

Schiff and Rogan’s campaign managers exchanged words publicly about who has the most backing from law enforcement.

The state senator announced he has picked up the endorsement of the National Assn. of Police Organizations, a group representing rank-and-file officers.

The Los Angeles Police Protective League is a member of the national association, although the league itself has not made an endorsement.

Schiff said the association endorsement is the latest of 10 law enforcement groups to back him, including five that have endorsed Rogan in previous races. He said the incumbent has picked up only three endorsements from law enforcement groups, including the Glendale Police Officers Assn. and the California Reserve Peace Officers.

Groups that have defected from Rogan to Schiff this year include the California Police Chiefs Assn., which represents more than 300 heads of police agencies.

“Adam Schiff’s voting record, in terms of issues we have been involved in, is excellent,” said Rick TerBorch, police chief in Arroyo Grande and chairman of the association’s political action committee. “Unfortunately, with the congressman, that is not true.”

In particular, TerBorch said the association believes Schiff has been more supportive of reasonable gun control measures than has Rogan.

Rogan’s campaign manager downplayed the shift in endorsements, saying many of the groups have more business with the Legislature than Congress and noting that Schiff is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“Jim Rogan is a former prosecutor and judge,” Roe said. “There is no question about his relationship with law enforcement.”