Ahead of next March’s runoff, a candidate debate for Los Angeles Council District 10, encompassing LA Koreatown, is scheduled.
The second District 10 candidate debate, hosted by the AAPI Equity Alliance, a coalition of more than 40 AAPI organizations, will be held on December 3, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the office of South Asian Network (154 S. Vermont Ave LA) in Koreatown.
The candidates, who held their first debate online on September 7, are expected to engage in a tense debate.
In contrast to the previous debate, leading candidates Councilmember Heather Hutt and Dennis Comer will not be featured in this debate. Councilmember Hutt has cited a scheduling conflict as the reason for her absence from the debate.
Instead, candidates Grace Yoo, African-American Pastor Eddie Anderson, State Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, and former L.A. City Commissioner Aura Vasquez will be debating.
The debate will reportedly focus on questions about the issues and concerns of local minority communities, including Korean Americans and Bangladeshi Americans. Some attendees will have the opportunity to ask the candidates questions in person. The organizers noted that they will be discussing the most pressing issues facing residents of the 10th District.
In addition to the six candidates currently running, three others, including Channing Martinez, have announced their intentions to run. But they have yet to disclose their campaign funds or file a list of supporters.
Only Yoo and Vasquez have submitted 500 signatures of support, which is due December 8. Yoo currently leads in fundraising with $186,714, followed by Hutt ($174,785) and Jones-Sawyer ($174,126).
Yoo expressed a wish for more candidates to address AAPI concerns in the district, emphasizing her campaign’s focus on the primary as the critical election.
Residents who wish to attend the debate must RSVP online.
Reservation site: https://bit.ly/cd10_forum
BY BRIAN CHOI, JUNHAN PARK [ichoi@koreadaily.com]
