Business council to hold candidates forum

-- Andrew Glazer

COSTA MESA -- A group of city business leaders will host an open forum

this fall to introduce City Council candidates to the public.

Members of the Latino Business Council will ask candidates to respond

to issues -- including education, West Side revitalization and crime

prevention -- that concern the city’s growing Latino population.

“We’ll have them answer questions that may not have otherwise been

addressed,” said Bill Turpit of the Latino Business Council.

As of Wednesday, nine residents had pulled nomination papers for City

Council seats. None of them is Latino.

The deadline to file applications for candidacy is Friday.

“We’ve been looking, but haven’t found anyone to step up to the plate.

It’s a big job.” said Manfredo Lespier, an attorney and member of the

Latino Business Council.

“It disappoints me,” Turpit said. “But I’m aware of ongoing efforts in

the community to develop leaders.”

He said in the last few years, neighborhood associations, church

groups and school organizations have begun to reflect the city’s

population.

“In a short period of time, we will have people ready to step

forward,” he said.

The forum, which will be open to the public, is tentatively scheduled

for 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Costa Mesa Neighborhood Community Center, 1845

Park Ave.