Libertarian shakes up forum 

By Jeff Dusing
Daily Forty-Niner

The Libertarian candidate for the 54th State Assembly District, Dale Ogden, broke up a relatively calm Cal State Long Beach political forum with his opinions on gun control.

"One of the fastest ways to make every person in a neighborhood feel safe is for every person to be armed," Ogden said Thursday at Cal State Long Beach's University Telecommunications Center.

But after the noticeable response, Ogden said: "I don't think that crazy people and felons should have arms."

His opponent, Assemblyman Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach), took the opposite approach, suggesting that while the right to bear arms is important, it is important to remove excess guns from the streets.

"I introduced one of the first bans on the sale of cheap, junk guns or the Saturday night specials," Lowenthal said.

The forum, for both 54th and 38th Congressional Districts, was sponsored by The League of Women Voters Long Beach Area, the American Association of University Women and the CSULB political science department, to give local candidates a chance to speak in a non-debate, open minded arena.

"[The event] provides the smaller parties an opportunity for exposure," said LWV Long Beach area President Betty Davenport, who provided opening and closing comments for the evening.

Candidates for the 38th congressional district also expressed their views. Congressman Stephen Horn (R-Lakewood) was absent as Congress is still in session. Instead, his son Steve Horn, Jr., along with Democrat Gerrie Schipske, a CSULB adjunct professor in public policy and administration and Libertarian candidate Jack Neglia were attending.

The candidates discussed their opinions on Proposition 38, which will enact a school voucher system allowing students to receive government assistance for public or private schools.

"If local people control their own schools, they control their own
children, and their own destiny," said Neglia, who was the only candidate in favor of the proposal.

However, based on the reaction he received from spectators in the audience, Ogden's comments were the most controversial of the evening.

"[The 54th Congressional] debate really showed that they were more passionate about what they were talking about," said junior Adam Faure, who is majoring in political science. "This debate was more lively, more fun."

The forum will be shown on channel 68 on Charter Cable and channel 25 on Media One in Lakewood on Nov. 3, 4 and 5.

Dale Ogden and Alan Lowenthall

Jack Neglia

Gerrie Schipske

Photos by Lauren Goodman