Debate Set in Heated Assembly Race

The two Republicans battling to represent Seal Beach, Los Alamitos, Fountain Valley and Rossmoor in the state Assembly will duke it out in a debate Thurday night.

Candidates for the 72nd Assembly District seat -- Los Alamitos Mayor Troy Edgar and Huntington Beach Businessman Travis Allen -- will face off at Fountain Valley City Hall at 7 p.m. The event is sponsored by the 405/605 Tea Party Patriots.

(Under California's new primary system, the top two vote-getters in June compete in the general election. In this case, it's Republican vs. Republican.)

Villa Park City Councilwoman Deborah Pauly is scheduled to moderate the debate at 10200 Slater Ave.

Emanuel Patrascu, Allen’s campaign manager, said they were going over possible questions with the candidate to "just try to cover as much ground as we can.”

Patrascu said the Allen campaign was preparing for a number of questions about taxes, the state budget and other fiscal issues “because it’s Tea Party-sponsored event.”

Calls to the Edgar campaign were not returned.

Some other issues possibly on the agenda include the proposed 405 Freeway expansion, the state’s high speed rail proposal and state employee pension reform.

The new 72nd Assembly District will represent Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Westminster Rossmoor, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Rossmoor and Midway City.

For more information, or to RSVP, call 714-483-3333.  Refreshments will be served.