Get to know Measure O, candidates at forums

Residents will have a chance to get to know the Huntington Beach City Council candidates and get informed on Measure O at two upcoming forums.

The Huntington Beach League of Women Voters will be moderating a forum on Measure O at 7 p.m. Oct. 5 in Council Chambers at City Hall, 2000 Main St. They are also sponsoring, with the American Assn. of University Women, a candidates forum at 6:30 p.m. in the Huntington Beach Central Library theater, 7111 Talbert Ave.

Measure O would remove debt service and other costs from inclusion in the 15% of the general fund parceled out to infrastructure improvement, repairs and maintenance every year. Former Mayor Shirley Dettloff and Councilman Don Hansen will be arguing in favor of the measure against former Mayor Debbie Cook and Councilman Keith Bohr.

Both sides will give opening and closing statements and then answer written questions from the audience.

The candidate forum will begin with a meet-and-greet at 6:30 p.m. and the forum will begin at 7 p.m. All candidates have been invited to the forum and will give short opening and closing statements and then answer questions.

There are 21 candidates vying for four open seats being vacated by Mayor Cathy Green, Mayor Pro Tem Jill Hardy, Councilman Gil Coerper and Councilman Joe Carchio, who is up for re-election.

Both forums will be broadcast on Channel 3 and will be available to view at http://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov.

Britney Barnes