Bradley Draws Blast From Ferraro by Agreeing to Only One Debate

Mayor Tom Bradley and Councilman John Ferraro said Monday that they have agreed to a March 14 debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters, but Ferraro charged that Bradley’s decision to participate in only one debate amounts to “arrogant disregard for the voter.”

Ferraro, Bradley’s main rival for mayor in the April 9 election, held a press conference to ask that Bradley accept debate invitations extended by television stations KCBS, KNBC and KABC, radio stations KNX and KABC, and Town Hall, a civic organization.

“With arrogant disregard for the voter he has represented for 12 years, Tom Bradley refuses to accept any but one invitation,” said Ferraro, who said he has accepted all debate requests.

Steve Monteil, press aide to the Bradley campaign, said the mayor has agreed to one debate and does not plan to do any others “because the mayor will continue to discuss the issues in a variety of forums throughout the city.”

The League of Women Voters’ debate will take place at the Sheraton Premiere in North Hollywood.

Thea Brodkin, the league’s voter service director, said that she had wanted to accept an offer from KCBS to televise the debate live from the station’s studio but that Bradley campaign officials Tom Quinn and Mike Gage “only wanted to do one debate and didn’t want to choose between stations.” Brodkin said debate will be open to full press coverage, and radio station KNX is expected to broadcast the debate live from the hotel.