Assembly candidates’ forum is tonight

Candidates for the 74th Assembly District will gather tonight for the Feet to the Fire Forum in Costa Mesa.

Newport Beach Councilwoman Leslie Daigle, Assemblyman Allan Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa) and Newport real estate investor Bob Rush will square off on local and state issues with members of the Orange County press. Each is running in the June 5 primary.

Orange County Register columnist Barbara Venezia will host the forum. Media panelists include Daily Pilot Editor John Canalis, Pilot contributing columnist Jack Wu, Voice of OC Editor Norberto Santana Jr., Newport Beach Independent Editor Roger Bloom and former Pilot Publisher Tom Johnson, now general manager of The Current.

Likely topics include the voter makeup of the newly formed district, which spans Costa Mesa, Newport, Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach, as well as Banning Ranch, the 19th Street Bridge, Costa Mesa’s fiscal problems and the candidates’ suitability for office.

The Feet to the Fire Forum will take place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Neighborhood Community Center, 1845 Park Ave. It will also be recorded and broadcast later on local cable stations.

—Staff Reports