Candidates' Forum Focuses On Disabled 

Michael Rosenthal

   "This is the first time I agree with everything Steve has said," chimed Los Angeles District Attorney candidate Gil Garcetti. He was referring to his opponent in the upcoming election, Steve Cooley, who had just given a rousing endorsement for the need to help people with disabilities throughout Los Angeles County. 
   The occasion was a candidates' forum sponsored by the Coalition for a Santa Monica Disabilities Commission at Ken Edwards Center on Monday, August 28. 
   "Of course, we should have a disabilities commission, it is a no brainer," said activist and City Council candidate Jerry Rubin. "There is always room for improvement and the commission will allow us to utilize the advice of expert volunteers."
   The three-hour forum saw candidates for District Attorney, State Assembly, State Senate, College Board of Trustees, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) Board and City Council parry questions specifically related to disability concerns and issues from the audience. 
   The Boathouse Restaurant prepared platters of food for the dinner time crowd. The room was paid for by local Santa Monica developer Howard Jacobs.
   In one of the most striking exchanges in one of the most heated political races, State Assembly candidate Fran Pavley, who has an autistic son, described her personal experience with disability issues.
   "I am concerned about his future, after my husband and I are gone," she said. Pavley's opponent for the State Assembly, Jayne Shapiro, shunning the microphone, drew on her experience as a nurse and forcefully presented her opinions on how to support people with disabilities.
   According to the organizers, nearly 20% of Americans, or 40 million people, live with disabilities, and that number does not include the families who care for them.
   There was a moment of silence as forum organizers dedicated the proceedings to the memory of the recently deceased Ilona Katz, a champion for people with disabilities.