CSUN students host forum in 'Berman-Sherman' race

Four of the six candidates in what is widely known as the Berman-Sherman congressional race squared off Monday night, thanks to the Associated Students of Cal State Northridge's Big Politics series.

Besides Democratic Reps. Brad Sherman and Howard Berman, who are engaged in a nationally watched, high-spending contest for a San Fernando Valley seat, Republicans Susan Shelley and Mark Reed participated in the candidates' forum at the Valley Performing Arts Center. 

Forum planners said they invited the "leading" candidates, which meant no spot on stage for Democrat Vince Gilmore or Republican Navraj Singh.

The  two-hour forum was one of several held since new political maps last year put Berman and Sherman in the same district and set up the contentious contest in the strongly Democratic district. It broke little new ground, despite the best efforts of radio host Bill Handel and CSUN questioners.

Sherman kept up his needling of Berman, including challenging him to blunt the effect of so-called super PACS and questioning when he was going to release his income tax returns. Sherman released his tax returns April 17 and challenged Berman to do the same.

"Friday," Berman promised at the debate. "How come your Xerox machine is so slow?" asked Sherman.

Berman touted his endorsements and sparred briefly with moderator Handel when he said a Berman answer about how to deal with the federal deficit wasn't understandable. "I guess I'm not Handel's messiah," quipped Berman. 

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--Jean Merl

Photo: Congressional candidates, from left, Susan Shelley, Howard Berman, Mark Reed and Brad Sherman debate Monday night.  Credit: www.csunas.org

 

 

Excluded congressional candidate files complaint with IRS

A Republican candidate excluded from a Jewish Journal forum has filed a complaint with the IRS alleging that the nonprofit publication is improperly engaging in political advocacy.

An attorney for  writer Susan Shelley, one of two Republicans in the widely watched clash between Democratic Reps. Howard Berman and Brad Sherman for a San Fernando Valley congressional district seat, alleged that the newspaper was opposing Shelley. As a  tax-exempt, nonprofit organization, the newspaper is not allowed to take positions for or against political candidates.

Rob Eshman, the Jewish Journal's publisher and editor in chief, said the publication has not taken sides in political races in its 25 years as a nonprofit organization and he strongly disagreed with Shelley's characterization that it is doing so now.  

Eshman said Shelley and another announced candidate, Democrat Vincent Gilmore, a gardener, were not included in the publication's upcoming forum because they failed to meet several criteria.