As Election Day nears and campaigns look to build momentum, the four hopefuls vying for a seat on the Manhattan Beach City Council gathered this week to reflect on current civic issues and discuss the future in a debate at City Hall.
Amy Howorth, David Lesser, Viet Ngo and Kathleen Paralusz are competing for two open seats on the seaside community's five-member governing board. Councilwoman Portia Cohen is not seeking re-election and Councilman Mitch Ward is termed out. Election Day is March 8.
The forum Thursday gave residents an opportunity to listen as the candidates spoke to a variety of pressing issues facing the city. And they came through, straying little from the standard rhetoric of small-town political debate.
Each candidate, for example, agreed that fiscal conservation, government transparency and environmental stewardship were top priorities.
Ngo, however, used the bulk of his speaking time to address perceived mis-management and civic corruption. The longtime resident is a regular and vocal presence at City Council meetings. His allegations Thursday were far-reaching and injected in nearly every question posed to him. They ranged from violations of open meeting laws and government secrecy to fiscal mismanagement and intimidation tactics by city staff members.
"I believe it's time to act," Ngo said in his heavily accented English. "To protect our property, money and the values for our children."
The one-minute responses of the three other candidates, meanwhile, were relatively more subdued.
Howorth, a twice-elected member of the Manhattan Beach Unified School District's Board of Education, touted the city's strong schools and her experience saving educational programs in the face of deep state-mandated funding cuts during the past seven years.
"I feel like I've been battle tested," Howorth said to the 60 residents gathered in city council chambers. "I've been accountable for your money," she added later in the debate. "Your home values have risen because of what the school board has been able to do."
Lesser, a corporate attorney and two-term planning commissioner, maintained that fiscal responsibility and increased communication between city officials and residents was a primary focus of his campaign. Lesser has worked on city committees overseeing mansionization issues and parking improvements.
"This is a community with challenges, but challenges that I think can be met," Lesser said. "For me, this is community service. This is not a stepping stone for higher office."
Paralusz, an attorney for Northrop Grumman and a city planning commissioner, touted her own civic knowledge acquired during stints on advisory boards and the planning commission. She ran for a seat on the council in 2009, losing narrowly to Councilmember Wayne Powell and her brother-in-law, current Mayor Richard Montgomery.
Both Montgomery and Paralusz have downplayed the relationship, and Paralusz addressed the issue Thursday. "I'm really happy to be able to answer this question because I've waited two years to do it, "Paralusz said when asked how the relationship would affect her decision-making if elected to the city's governing body. "As much as I enjoy having him as my brother-in-law, we see things differently and we respectfully disagree on some issues."
Absent from the debate were questions regarding the abrupt departure of former City Manager Geoff Dolan in December 2009. The city is currently mired in a legal battle against Richard McKee, a noted open-government advocate who is seeking the release of key documents surrounding Dolan's exit, including the severance paid to him. The lawsuit and Dolan's departure, like many issues in the city, have sparked a strong reaction and divided many residents.
The forum Thursday was sponsored by the Manhattan Beach Residents Association and moderated by Planning Commissioner Sandra Seville-Jones. Questions posed to the candidates included nearly a dozen issues affecting the city, among them: utility undergrounding, open carry, the upcoming project to rebuild the city's branch of the Los Angeles County Library and civil discourse between the City Council and residents.
The four candidates gathered earlier this week at the Neptunian Woman's Club for the first debate in the three-part series. A final candidate forum is planned for 6 p.m. March 3 at American Martyrs Catholic Church, 624 15th Street. It will be sponsored by the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce.
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