Forums on tap for Richmond council, mayoral candidates

By Katherine Tam
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 09/20/2010 06:26:03 PM PDT
Updated: 09/20/2010 06:26:03 PM PDT

RICHMOND -- Voters can meet the candidates running for Richmond City Council and mayor at two town hall forums this month.
The nine candidates vying for three open council seats will share their views on local issues from 7-9 p.m. Monday in the Richmond City Council Chamber, 440 Civic Center Plaza. The candidates are Jovanka Beckles, Corky Booze, Virginia Finlay, Rhonda Harris, , Eduardo Martinez and Harry Singh along with incumbents Ludmyrna Lopez, Maria Viramontes and Jim Rogers. Gary Bell has withdrawn from the race, citing family reasons.
The three mayoral candidates -- incumbent Gayle McLaughlin, Councilman Nat Bates and John Ziesenhenne -- will be featured in a separate forum from 4-5 p.m. Sept. 30, also in the Richmond City Council Chamber.
Both forums are open to the public. Residents can submit questions for the candidates to KCRT Channel 28, which is organizing the events, by calling 510-620-6759. Questions also can be faxed to 510-620-6713 or e-mailed to info@kcrt.com.
The forums will be taped and replayed on KCRT Channel 28 at the following times:
·  Richmond Mayor: Oct. 1, noon; Oct. 2, 8 p.m.; Oct. 5 p.m.; Oct. 8, noon; Oct. 9, 5 p.m.; Oct. 11, 3 p.m.; Oct. 14, 9 a.m.; Oct. 15, 9 p.m.; Oct. 20, 11 a.m.; Oct. 22, noon; Oct. 28, noon and 10 p.m.; Oct. 30, 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.; Oct. 31, 5 a.m.; Nov. 1, 2 a.m., 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.; Nov. 2, noon and 3 p.m.
·  Richmond City Council: Oct. 1, 1 p.m.; Oct. 2, 9 p.m.; Oct. 5, noon; Oct. 9, 6 p.m.; Oct. 11, 4 p.m.; Oct. 14, 10 a.m.; Oct. 15, noon and 10 p.m.; Oct. 18, noon; Oct. 20, 9 a.m.; Oct. 22, 9 p.m.; Oct. 28, 8 p.m.; Oct. 29, noon; Oct. 30, 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.; Oct. 31, 3 a.m.; Nov. 1, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Nov. 2, 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Katherine Tam covers Richmond. Follow her at Twitter.com/katherinetam.