District 3 LA County Supervisor race: Kuehl, Shriver face off in debate

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Sunday, October 19, 2014
District 3 LA County Supervisor race: Kuehl, Shriver face off in debate
District 3 county supervisor candidates Sheila Kuehl and Bobby Shriver faced off in a debate Friday.

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- District 3 county supervisor candidates Bobby Shriver and Sheila Kuehl faced off in a debate Friday night.

Shriver, a former Santa Monica councilman, and Kuehl, a former state legislator, took the podiums from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center.

Watch the full Kuehl Shriver debate

Kuehl says her 14 years in the legislature uniquely prepares her to be a supervisor.

"I think my experience in getting votes and explaining legislation to my colleagues and getting three different governors to sign these bills, both of them Republicans," Kuehl said.

Shriver says it's his experience as a former Santa Monica city councilmember that is key.

"My experience in local government has been you have to listen to people to tell you what their interest is. It's a slightly different perspective on how to get things done," Shriver said.

Kuehl and Shriver answered questions on transportation, jails, and health service, among others.

ABC7 anchor Marc Brown moderated and ABC7 reporter Adrienne Alpert served as a panelist.

There weren't many major differences between the two candidates, although they sparred on rent control and the county's responsibility for pollution caused by storm run-off.

The pair is vying for a seat representing the Westside and the Valley after Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky termed out.

In the June primary, Kuehl got 36 percent of the vote and Shriver got 29 percent of the vote, setting up what could be a close race in November.

The event was sponsored by ABC7, The Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at Cal State LA, the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles Education Fund and League of Women Voters of Los Angeles County.

The debate, which was streamed live on abc7.com Friday night, was also broadcast on ABC7 Sunday at noon.