Incumbent Kevin de León and tenant rights attorney Ysabel Jurado will tackle Council District 14’s most pressing issues on Wednesday as the race for who will represent the area enters its final month.
The two will face off in a debate-style forum, hosted by nonprofits Boyle Heights Beat and Proyecto Pastoral, at Dolores Mission Catholic Church from 5 to 7 p.m.
The forum was originally scheduled for Oct. 5 but was postponed after Jurado tested positive for COVID-19. RSVPs made for the original forum will be honored for the new date and time. Walk-ins are also welcome.
Candidates will be questioned by The Beat’s youth reporter David Garcia, a senior at Mendez High School, and Proyecto board member Lilia Acosta about topics including housing, education, crime and safety. Father Brendan P. Busse, a member of the Dolores Mission pastoral team, will emcee the event.
Questions asked during the forum will be based on nearly 500 responses collected from the Election Beat, a survey asking local residents what issues they want candidates to address.
Attendees will also have a chance to engage with candidates by submitting questions to Boyle Heights Beat staff at the forum, which will be asked during a Q&A session following the main debate.
Translation and childcare services will be available at Wednesday’s event. Light food and beverages, including coffee and pan dulce from local businesses, will also be provided. Parking will be available on a first-come, first-served basis with lots at 1618 E. 3rd St. and 370 S. Clarence St.
Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the debate starts promptly at 5:15 p.m. A live stream for the debate is available for those unable to attend the forum in person.
The debate marks the first time Jurado and De León face off in Boyle Heights. In February, The Beat held a CD 14 forum for the eighth candidates running for the seat in the primary, but De León and Assemblymember Miguel Santiago were not present.
De León and Jurado have participated in at least two other debates in September with hundreds in attendance. The first debate, covered by The Beat, took place in Lincoln Heights. On Sept. 25, the El Sereno Chamber of Commerce hosted a debate between the two in El Sereno.
