7 Candidates Slated to Appear in Forum

Candidates for three state Senate seats representing parts of the San Fernando Valley are scheduled to appear Monday at a forum sponsored by two local business groups.

Vying to replace retiring state Sen. Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) in the 19th District, Assemblyman Tom McClintock, a conservative Republican from Northridge, will face off with Ventura County Supervisor Judy Mikels, his moderate Republican opponent in the March 7 primary. The district includes most of Ventura County and parts of the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys.

In the 21st District, rival Assemblymen Jack Scott (D-Altadena) and Scott Wildman (D-Los Angeles) are expected to appear, as is GOP front-runner Paul Zee, a South Pasadena councilman. The area, stretching from the east San Fernando Valley through parts of the San Gabriel Valley, is now represented by state Sen. Adam Schiff, who is running for Congress.

Two assembly members forced out by term limits, Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) and Wally Knox (D-Los Angeles), are also slated to attend the forum. Kuehl and Knox are competing to succeed Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Los Angeles) in the 23rd District, which runs from Hancock Park to Malibu and over the Santa Monica Mountains into the West Valley.

The forum will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Radisson Valley Center Hotel, 15433 Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks. Admission is $30 and includes lunch and parking. For more information, call VICA at (818) 226-6466.