Rep. argues for change in debate format

One day before the first and only debate among Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, Huntington Beach Mayor Debbie Cook and third-party candidates Tom Lash and Ernst Gasteiger, the format has been changed.

Rohrabacher’s campaign was unhappy with the originally agreed upon format for today’s debate at Orange Coast College, which called for a panel of five people (two journalists, one college faculty member and two students) to ask questions of the candidates.

In response to Rohrabacher’s request, organizer Richard Lara disbanded the panel and will instead be collecting questions from audience members written on 3-by-5-inch note cards. The questions will be asked by OCC President Bob Dees, who will be the debate moderator.

“We are very happy that we’ve agreed upon a format where there will be a true debate rather than an interrogation by five unknown panelists,” said Rohrabacher’s campaign spokeswoman Phaedra Dugan in an e-mail.

Cook said she was satisfied with the previous format and doesn’t appreciate the last-minute change, but she still plans to participate.

“It bothers me that he waited until the 11th hour to decide. I don’t care what the format is, but just give me ample time to prepare,” Cook said.

Both candidates have specific goals in the debate.

Rohrabacher wants to convince the electorate that Cook is too liberal for the 46th District and plans to show differences between the two candidates’ positions on taxes and immigration.

Cook says she will use the opportunity to demonstrate that she’s a moderate voice with a record of accomplishment in the district. Two key issues where she says she differs with Rohrabacher are how the country should deal with the economic crisis and how it should achieve energy independence.

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