City council candidates to face-off in debate

Los Angeles County’s 5th District, which includes UCLA, is approaching its quadrennial city council race.

Paul Koretz, the current councilman in the 5th District, will face Westwood Neighborhood Council member Mark Herd in a debate about local issues Tuesday night in preparation for the

March 5 election.

The debate, which will consist of a panel of Westside residents, will likely focus on the 5th District and the city budget, said David Giron, Koretz’s campaign manager. The chair of the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils, Mike Newhouse, will moderate the debate, he added.

Thomas Schwartz, a professor of political science at UCLA, said city councilmembers for the Westwood district want to impress UCLA students because they tend to vote in a block. He added that city councilmembers have control over issues such as street repair and traffic problems that affect students. Councilmembers can also support city-wide initiatives.

In the most recent city council race in 2009, Koretz defeated Westside Neighborhood Council member David Vahedi by a slim margin, according to a Los Angeles Times article.

Koretz served on the State Assembly for six years before being elected. While serving his 2009-2012 term, Koretz said he helped to prevent layoffs through early retirements and cut down on other inefficiencies to help alleviate L.A.’s budget shortfall.

If re-elected, Koretz said he plans to focus on legislation to relieve environmental concerns and to promote new forms of public transportation, as well as continue to work on Los Angeles’ city budget issues.

Mark Herd responded to an initial request for an interview with the Daily Bruin news department, but did not respond to follow-up emails and telephone calls to set up an interview.

He founded the Westwood Neighborhood Council in 2010, according to his election website. On the website, Herd said he wants to stop overdevelopment in Westwood, historical preservation and lower taxes.

His website states that he hopes to use the election as a way to openly discuss issues facing the 5th District.

“I am the only candidate running in the election against Councilmember Koretz, so it has suddenly turned into a real opportunity to turn what would have been a silent election … into a discussion of district and city issues,” according to a statement on his website.

Schwartz said he thinks Paul Koretz has more experience with the city council position than his opponent, which could help his chances in the election. Incumbents typically have higher chances of re-election because they are more well known within the communities, according to multiple studies.

The city council debate will take place Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Westwood.