After being asked if the Republican Party should line up behind just one of the six Republican candidates for the 36th Congressional seat, candidate Kit Bobko quipped, “My answer is for the five gentlemen to my left to get out of the race.”
Bobko’s quip was as close as any of the six candidates came to violating Ronald Reagan’s 11th commandment: “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican,” during a forum hosted by the Los Angeles County Lincoln Club at the Torrance Doubletree Hotel last Friday.
The six Republicans are among 16 candidates, including five Democrats, who are campaigning for the South Bay Congressional seat vacated in February by Democrat Jane Harman. As a result of Proposition 14, unless one candidate receives over 50 percent of the vote in the May 17 special election, the top two finishers will advance to the July 12 run-off, regardless of party affiliation.
The lunchtime forum was moderated by former Manhattan Beach Mayor Bob Holmes, who reminded the candidates of Reagan’s commandment.
Taking their cue from Holmes, the candidates focused on why they, personally, were best qualified to defeat the Democrats in May and serve the 36th in Washington.
Redondo Mayor Mike Gin, a field representative for Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, cited his experience in bringing jobs to the district.
“As mayor, I’ve done it. Macy’s was saved, a new hotel is being built in King Harbor and the new addition to the South Bay Galleria will create 200 new jobs,” Gin said.
He noted that Redondo has maintained a balanced budget by imposing six percent pay cuts, across the board.
Mike Webb, Redondo Beach’s elected city attorney, said the first questions Republicans need to ask of the candidates is, “Can he win?”
Webb pointed out that he was twice elected city attorney by wide margins and that he has deep ties in the district as a result of having six children, and being the Los Angeles County Pop Warner director.
Bobko, a Hermosa Beach councilman and a litigation attorney with Watson and Gershon, said, “I’m the only candidate who has left blood on the mat from fighting the unions.” He said Hermosa’s firefighters asked Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley to investigate whether he lived in Hermosa Beach after he proposed a two tier pension system for the city’s employees. The DA concluded Bobko did live in the district.
Steve Eisley argued that he was the best qualified of the candidates to help local businesses, especially aerospace, because of his work in aerospace. The Marina del Rey resident is head of sales and marketing for Excalibur Almaz and a marketing consultant for aerospace companies.
Craig Huey argued that winning will take money and he is committed to spending $800,000 and sending out 10 district-wide mailers. Huey lives outside the district in Rancho Palos Verdes and is president of JudgeVotersGuide.com, LAvoterGuide.com and ElectionForum.org. LAvoter serves conservative voters and Election Forum serves religious voters, Huey said.
San Pedro Realtor George Newberry said his 29 years of active service in the Air Force, including two tours at the Los Angeles Air Force Base, as well as his business experience prepared him to help the local aerospace industry and address federal budget problems.
The candidates were in general agreement in opposing Obama’s health care plan, reducing spending and taxes and encouraging economic growth.
But the candidates were not in agreement on whether the Republican party should focus its support on just one of the candidates and encourage the others to withdraw.
Gin said, “Everyone should have the opportunity to run for office. It’s part of the American dream.”
Huey agreed. “I believe in competition. It’s better to have battle-tested candidates. A campaign with less than $200,000 won’t make a dent,” he said.
Webb and Eisley favored having their party back a single candidate.
“The only way to make it work is for state or county Republicans to have their endorsements come with funding,” Webb added.
Bobko underscored the need for financing by asking the guests to contribute to his campaign.
“I’m not self funded,” he said. ER
