LA Mayoral Candidates Discuss Key Local Issues at Forum

The five major candidates running for the mayor of Los Angeles shared the stage Saturday morning at USC's Bovard Auditorium to take part in the City of Los Angeles Mayoral Candidates Forum organized by the Empowerment Congress.

City Councilmember Eric Garcetti, City Controller Wendy Greuel, Kevin James, City Councilmember Jan Perry, and Emanuel A. Pleitez fielded questions regarding the arts, housing and homelessness, mental health services, public transportation, gun control and the economy.

Longtime local politicians, like Perry, Garcetti and Greuel, counterbalanced their experience against the new leadership ideas of Pleitez and James. Each candidate was allowed a 1-minute opening statement, 1-minute to answer each question and a 1-minute closing statement.

Attendees of the summit said they appreciated hearing from all of the candidates and felt the forum was an effective way to display each candidates platforms and strategies.

The first clip above includes reaction from forum attendees Sherry Bell and Mark Gory.

The other clips above include the candidates' responses to the following topics:

• Arts and the Impact on the Economy
• Mental Health, Housing and Homelessness
• Public Transportation
• Gun Control
• The Economy

The election will be held on Tuesday, March 5. If a single candidate does not receive more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election will be held on Tuesday, May 21.