Congressional candidates to face off at OCC debate

Paul Clinton

Candidates vying for the newly realigned congressional seat that

includes the city are set to face off during a two-hour forum tonight

at Orange Coast College.

As the fifth and last of its kind before the Nov. 5 election, the

forum will allow the candidates to air their views on everything from

a possible war with Iraq to whether health care should be provided to

illegal immigrants.

“I think this will be one of the most lively debates,” Rohrabacher

said Tuesday. “We know now where the major differences [of opinion]

are. Now, we’ll refine those.”

Rohrabacher, the Republican incumbent who has held his seat since

1988, will be joined by Democratic nurse and attorney Gerrie

Schipske, Libertarian technology executive Keith Gann and write-in

Green Party nominee Tom Lash.

Schipske did not return several calls seeking comment.

OCC international relations student Madeline Levy chaired the

student committee that organized the event.

Levy said the forum will be divided into two one-hour halves.

During the first hour, moderator Norm Fricker, who teaches a

speech-and-debate class at the community college, will pose prepared

questions to the candidates, Levy said. Audience members will be able

to ask their own questions during the second hour.

The candidates will be put on a two-minute stopwatch when giving

their answers, Levy said, as a way to cut down on grandstanding.

Forum organizers hope to engage an apathetic public, even though

the races in this election have failed to generate much voter

enthusiasm. Pundits attribute this to a lackluster governor’s race

and the absence of a hot-button statewide initiative.

“It’s your chance to be part of the election process,” Levy said.

“To some extent, [the apathy] filters down, but you’re always going

to have a general involvement because of the nature of [elections].”

Four other forums have been held in Long Beach, Seal Beach and

Rancho Palos Verdes earlier this month in a district that has

undergone fairly radical changes from its earlier incarnation. In

2001, the state Legislature realigned all congressional districts

using updated U.S. Census data. The new 46th District was pieced

together from four existing districts.

Parts of coastal Long Beach and wealthy Rancho Palos Verdes were

added to existing areas in coastal Orange County.

Schipske has brought her liberal views -- she supports healthcare

for illegal immigrants and opposes military action against Iraq -- to

a district that is 48% registered Republican.

She has also kept up a steady drumbeat of criticism of

Rohrabacher, calling him a “right-wing conservative” and assaulting

his hawkish support for war with Iraq.

But the previous four debates have been polite and civil,

Rohrabacher said.

“She has been aggressive, but not nasty,” Rohrabacher said. “We

strongly disagree on our general philosophy.”

The forum will be held in the community college’s 375-seat science

hall, 2701 Fairview Road. It’s set to begin at 7 p.m. and is free to

the public.