Come see democracy in action

Politicians are nothing if not accountable to the electorate they serve. The accountability period typically begins when a candidate releases a platform explaining their position on issues. Once a candidate is elected, the platform serves as a good frame of reference by which all future performance can be judged. The best politicians are the ones who make promises-and keep them.

On Tues., May 16, the Democratic, Republican and independent candidates in the race for the 41st state Assembly seat will have an opportunity to discuss their stands on important local and regional issues such as education, immigration, traffic and the environment. The Acorn, the Agoura/Oak Park/Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce and Charter Communications are hosting a public forum to which all eight of the candidates in the June 6 primary election have been invited. The public is welcome, too.

The event begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be held at the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center in Calabasas.

The Democrats, in alphabetical order, are Julia Brownley, president of the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District; Barry Groveman, environmental lawyer and member of the Calabasas City Council; Kelly Hayes-Raitt, co-founder of the environmental group Heal the Bay; Jonathan Levey, attorney and business law professor at California State University Channel Islands, and Shawn Casey O'Brien, an activist for the disabled.

The two Republicans who will face off in the June primary are businessman Tony Dolz and social worker Adriana Van Hemert, both of whom are legal immigrants. Conrad Stefan Frankowski represents the Libertarian party.

The 41st District runs from Santa Monica to Oxnard and includes Calabasas, Agoura Hills and Westlake Village. Some say the race is all about West Los Angeles, but the incumbent just happens to be Agoura Hills' own Fran Pavley. Our area will be a factor.

In many respects, times are difficult for the region. Developers battle with environmentalists-while workers sit on the sidelines waiting for affordable housing. Schools suffer from budget cutbacks imposed by the state, traffic continues to grow worse, and immigrants face increasing pressure to give up their piece of the American pie.

On May 16, citizens have a rare opportunity to meet the candidates who will shape the area's future. It's democracy in action and the public is invited.

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