Political TV Show Bans Candidates for City Office

Candidates running for local office are banned from a city-run cable television program on municipal politics until a dispute about equal time is resolved, officials said.

All candidates seeking public office in the March election are being denied access to the show “City Beat,” which appears on cable station KPAS-TV, until the city attorney advises officials on whether some appearances violate the city’s fairness regulation.

Councilman William Paparian filed a complaint with the city alleging that an appearance by Mayor Chris Holden on a city-run cable show required that Paparian receive equal time.

Paparian and Holden are among 10 candidates vying to be elected mayor of Pasadena. Previously, candidates ran for a council seat and then council members took turns as mayor.

Ann Erdman, the city’s public information officer, said a recent program featuring Holden, several journalists and a local attorney discussing the election will not be replayed.

“Until we get an opinion from the city attorney the two council members who aren’t up for election are the only council members appearing on city-run cable,” Erdman said.

City Atty. Michele Bagneris is expected to issue an opinion on the matter within a few weeks.