6th District City Council hopefuls to square off Friday

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Candidates in the running for the San Diego City Council’s sixth district seat are scheduled to square off Friday night over issues facing Asian and Pacific Islander residents in a forum hosted by a civic organization, the Asian Pacific American Coalition.

Three leading candidates to represent Mira Mesa, Sorrento Valley, Miramar, Rancho Penasquitos, Clairemont Mesa and Kearny Mesa — San Diego County Taxpayers Association Vice President Chris Cate, education consultant Carol Kim Carol Kim and ex-San Diego Unified School District Trustee Mitz Lee — will participate in the non-debate style forum in the food court of the nearly 100,000-square-foot Zion Marketplace, according to organizers.

Special education assistant Jane Glasson and community and veterans activist De Le were not scheduled to attend.

Cate, Kim and Lee will each have 30 minutes to speak individually with the moderator, and answer questions about cultural, political, and economic issues facing the district’s Asian and Pacific Islander residents.

“2014 is an historic year for Asian Pacific Islanders in San Diego,” APAC Chairman Tim Nguyen said. “We want to give voters an up-close, intimate look at the major contenders, and decide for themselves who to vote for. With so many strong Asian candidates in this race, the community is sure to be well represented.”

Officials with APAC said District 6 was the first Asian-influenced district in San Diego. About a third of the district’s residents are of Asian descent.

“This could arguably be the most important city council race,” Nguyen said. “One, District 6 is considered a swing city council seat, and could decide the balance of power at city hall for years to come. Two, the race could mobilize a voter-base which would typically be relatively quiet. Three, it could set a precedent to encourage civic engagement for San Diego’s 350,000 Asian American community, now the fastest-growing group in the region.”

Lorie Zapf currently represents District 6 but will seek the District 2 seat vacated by Mayor Kevin Faulconer. When City Council maps were redrawn a couple of years ago, her residence fell into his beach and bay district.