Weiss and Trutanich, Koretz and Vahedi to debate tonight
The two candidates competing to become Los Angeles' next city attorney, Westside City Councilman Jack Weiss and San Pedro attorney Carmen Trutanich, will face off in their second debate of the runoff campaign tonight in Sherman Oaks.
The forum, sponsored by the neighborhood councils of Sherman Oaks and Studio City and the Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce, will also include the first matchup since the March 3 primary between the two men running for Weiss’ 5th District council seat, former Assemblyman Paul Koretz and neighborhood council member David Vahedi.
The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Sherman Oaks Elementary School, 14755 Greenleaf St. The faculty parking lot will be available for attendees.
Vahedi and Koretz, who were separated by 0.2 of percentage point in the primary field of five candidates, will debate beginning at 6:45, followed by Trutanich and Weiss. After two-minute opening statements, the candidates will take questions, some from the audience and some selected by the chamber and neighborhood councils.
The runoff elections will be held May 19.
-- Maeve Reston
EDITOR'S PICKS:
where was Nuch tonight? Only Jack Weiss showed...
Posted by: laactivist | April 13, 2009 at 11:32 PM
I came to see a debate but Carmen Trutanich wasnt there. I think its disrespectful when people take time out of there lives to see the candidates that one of them dosent show up. Is he scared of Jack Weiss or just of answering questions about his record. I hope he wont duck the other debates because it is really really rude.
Posted by: shermanoaksmom818 | April 13, 2009 at 11:35 PM
Trutanich was a no-show but Weiss answered questions. He was very personable and energized and the Sherman Oaks/Studio City/ Encino audience seemed to respond warmly to him, not at all what we've been told by the Trutanich campaign. Trutanich was represented by Jane Usher and some people were passing out leaflets against Weiss.
The CD5 candidates sounded an awful lot the same, except Koretz noted that there's an anti-incumbent attitude which isn't always the best idea since experience and knowing people and how to get things done matters. Vahedi's main boast was that he's been a lifelong resident of CD5 while Koretz grew up there but then went and came back, a non-issue. Koretz also admitted to being "more progressive," but really it's hard to choose.
Neither was asked what they'd do to generate revenue to pave the streets and do all the fixes people want if they stop development. I'd like to see them asked that question in future and by reporters. However they were also both personable.
Posted by: Miss Marple | April 13, 2009 at 11:52 PM
Totally disappointed I came to see a debate and Trutanich didn't show up what's with that, completely disrespectful at this stage in the game.
Posted by: disappinted | April 14, 2009 at 09:42 AM
Jack Weiss is my councilman and his office has been great. Carmen Trutanich is running an incompetent campaign,
I saw on Calitics, that first he lets someone squat on this website:
www.true2009.com
and then he skips out on only the second debate without telling people in advance.
Nice!
Posted by: RichDodgers | April 14, 2009 at 09:24 PM
Jack Weiss is a dirty campaigner and he was the worst councilman we've ever had in cd5. Thank God he's leaving cd5. Hopefully Vahedi will beat Koretz (who was agianst adding a lane to the 405 in favor of saving 1000 homes, actually 1000 votes if you ask me)
Posted by: CD5Stakeholder Homeowner | April 30, 2009 at 10:31 PM