LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF CALIFORNIA
ANNOUNCES FINAL LIST OF CANDIDATES INVITED TO GUBERNATORIAL FORUMS

LWVC Criteria for Participation Used for Remaining Two Forums

October 2 Forum Details October 4 Forum Details Press Release 9/25 - setting the record straight Recall Election

SACRAMENTO - The League of Women Voters of California (LWVC) announced today the complete list of candidates who are eligible to participate in the remaining two gubernatorial forums.

"The League is proud to cosponsor the remaining two forums of this unprecedented election," said League President Jacqueline Jacobberger. "We are also pleased that League criteria for participation are used for both forums."

Whenever there are multiple candidates for an elected office, it is necessary to set some quantifiable and impartial criteria for deciding who will be included in a forum. For statewide contests, the League of Women Voters regularly uses a percentage of support indicated in one or more respected polls with a cutoff date as close to the event as is technically possible. Faced with the unique situation of having 135 certified candidates on one ballot, the League determined that this level of support should be set at three percent.

There are two gubernatorial forums remaining before the October 7 election - one on October 2 in Los Angeles and one on October 4 in San Diego. The League is a cosponsor of both.

The League of Women Voters of California Education Fund, the nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that conducts our voters service and citizen education activities, working with the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, established that three percent support in a Los Angeles Times poll as the threshold for candidates to be invited to the October 2 forum.

The San Diego Union-Tribune originally established a 10 percent level of support in the Field Poll or Public Policy Institute of California poll closest to September 29 as the threshold for candidates to be invited to the October 4 forum. As one of the cosponsors of this debate, the League of Women Voters of San Diego County urged the Union-Tribune to adopt the League-established threshold of three percent, which the Union-Tribune agreed to yesterday.

Although this special election is in many ways unprecedented, the League of Women Voters remains constant in our original mission, undertaken more than 80 years ago, to strengthen democracy by acting as an unbiased resource that both candidates and voters can rely on.

"The League cosponsored these forums so that voters could hear from the remaining significant candidates," said League President Jacobberger. "We welcome all the candidates who have qualified and hope that Californians find the resulting dialogues informative."

October 2 Forum Details

Cosponsors: The League of Women Voters of California Education Fund; KNBC, Channel 4, Los Angeles; KVEA (Telemundo), Los Angeles; Los Angeles Cable Station, LA 36; and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.

Television: California NBC affiliate stations, including KNBC (Los Angeles), KNTV (San Francisco), KNSD (San Diego). Telemundo stations KWHY (Los Angeles), KSTS (San Francisco) and KNSO (Fresno).

Candidates: Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante (Democrat), Peter Camejo (Green) and Senator Tom McClintock (Republican) have committed to participate. Arnold Schwarzenegger (Republican) has declined to participate. Arianna Huffington (Independent) has withdrawn from the gubernatorial race and will no longer participate.

Other Participants: Prior to the debate, recall proponent Darrell Issa will be given time to state the reasons for the recall, while Art Torres, Chair of the California Democratic Party, will be given equal time to present the arguments against the recall.

Press Credentials: Scott Regberg, KNBC: (310) 475-5735

October 4 Forum Details

Cosponsors: The San Diego Union-Tribune; the League of Women Voters of San Diego County; KPBS-TV, San Diego; and San Diego State University.

Television: KPBS-TV, San Diego; also available for broadcast on all PBS and commercial television stations.

Candidates: Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante (Democrat), Peter Camejo (Green) and Senator Tom McClintock (Republican) have committed to participate. Arnold Schwarzenegger (Republican) has declined to participate. Arianna Huffington (Independent) has withdrawn from the gubernatorial race and will no longer participate.

Other Participants: Prior to the debate, Sharon Davis will answer questions regarding the recall that have been submitted by San Diego region residents.

Press Credentials: mediacredentials@nstpr.com

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