Now that the field for the June election to replace Jane Harman has "narrowed" to eighteen confirmed candidates, it's time to begin to put together the questionnaire for the candidates to make the case to Streetsblog readers. What do you want to ask the candidates? Leave your thoughts in the comments section.
More than other local Members of Congress from either party, Harman has been a key figure for transportation advocates because of her staunch support for Measure R, 30 in 10 and now America Fast Forward. Mayor Villaraigosa and the advocates for rapidly expanding construction of the Measure R rail projects, could see their prospects dim without Harman's steady advocacy if the leadership of Senator Barbara Boxer, another staunch 30/10 supporter, is unable to get the changes that would allow Los Angeles Metro to accelerate its rail construction schedule.
When Harman stepped aside to run a foreign policy think-tank, a group of eighteen candidates rose to battle for her abandoned seat. Leading the pack are Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen, Redondo Beach Mayor Mike Gin and activist Marcy Winograd who has twice garnered significant support challenging Harman.
The extension of the Purple Line to Westwood (and beyond?) isn't the only transit project that will impact the 36th Congressional District. In fact, the Green Line Extension to LAX and the South Bay will move more residents and workers to and within the 36th as the District extends from the Mar Vista area of West Los Angeles all the say south down the coast to San Pedro.
Bicycling and federal investment in bicycling infrastructure, emerged as an issue in Harman's last campaign less than five months ago when her primary opponent, Winograd, snared the endorsement of Bikeside and tapped into the active West Los Angeles bike scene to give a boost to her strong, but ultimately unsuccessful, attempt to unseat Harman.
Leave your questions in the comments section. We're going to mail out the survey on Friday.
