The Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is hosting a forum at Cal State Long Beach Wednesday evening featuring most of the candidates in the upcoming 33rd state Senate District special election.
Eight of the 11 candidates have been confirmed to attend.
Long Beach Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez, the perceived front-runner, is unable to attend, according to organizers.
Her campaign manager Kristina Bigdeli told the Post Gonzalez had “a longstanding conflict and conveyed her regrets to the organizer in February.”
Confirmation is still pending for Cudahy Councilman Chris Garcia and Lynwood Mayor Jose Luis Solache.
This is the second forum hosted in Long Beach that Gonzalez and Garcia do not attend.
Gonzalez was in Canada on city business during a forum late last month at Liberation Brewing.
Gonzalez did attend a panel in late February featuring the female Democratic candidates in the race, which the Post live-tweeted.
The forum this week will be a moderated panel and will allow voters to hear candidates discuss the “issues of importance to them in this election,” according to the Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which has not endorsed any candidate.
The following candidates are scheduled to attend:
- Denise Diaz
- Ali Saleh
- Leticia Vasquez Wilson
- Jack Guerrero
- Thomas Jefferson Cares
- Cesar Flores
- Martha Flores Gibson
- Ana Maria Quintana
The seat, which was left vacant when incumbent Ricardo Lara was elected the state’s insurance commissioner last November, includes cities in Southeast Los Angeles and portions of Long Beach. The special election is scheduled to take place March 26.
The event is free and open to the public. Those interested in attending should RSVP here.
The forum will be held at 6 p.m. at The Pointe at Walter Pyramid, 1250 N. Bellflower Blvd.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with a comment from Lena Gonzalez’s campaign manager.