Council hopefuls to debate during forum

Nine Costa Mesa City Council candidates will have their first official opportunity to spar on the issues Thursday evening.

Mesa Verde Community Inc. will host its annual candidates’ forum at the Costa Mesa Neighborhood Community Center, where council hopefuls will be grilled by former Mayor Jay Humphrey. In the past the forum has been very well attended.

Humphrey will commence the questioning at 7 p.m. after an hourlong candidate meet-and-greet that starts at 6 p.m. Cindy Brennaman, one of the event’s organizers, said that although the event is hosted by the Mesa Verde Homeowners Assn. it will not focus on Mesa Verde issues.

“It’s not going to be controversial or self-serving because we really want to hear from everyone,” Brennaman said.

After some quick introductions, the forum will get started with a couple of set questions by the organizers, and then it will continue with questions that the audience writes down on note cards. Candidates will have a two-minute time limit in answering questions.

At the conclusion of the questioning, which is expected to last 90 minutes to two hours, the candidates will each have about two minutes to wrap up and summarize their points.

The city’s television crew will film the event, but it will not be broadcast until after the debate is over.

WHAT: City Council Candidates’ Forum

WHERE: Costa Mesa Neighborhood Community Center, 845 Park Ave.

WHEN: 6 p.m. meet and greet, 7 p.m. debate

COST: Free

ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at alan.blank@latimes.com.