50th Assembly District Candidates to Square Off Sunday

Beverly Hills voters will get an opportunity Sunday to hear from the three Democrats competing to represent the city in the California State Assembly.

Assemblywoman Betsy Butler, political veteran Torie Osborn and Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom, all candidates for the , which includes Beverly Hills, will participate in a forum hosted by the Malibu Democratic Club. This will be the first public forum featuring the three Democrats.

West Hollywood resident Brad Torgan, the lone Republican in the race, was not invited to the event.

The primary election is June 5. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, will face off in the November general election. Butler and Osborn are the front-runners in terms of money raised and endorsements collected.

Nonprofit civil rights organization  is endorsing Butler. She has also been endorsed by Vice Mayor , California Democratic Party Vice Chairman Alex Rooker, Lt. Governor  and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca. Organizations backing Butler include the Legislative LGBT Caucus and the Legislative Women's Caucus.

Osborn, a liberal activist, has earned endorsements from Planning Commissioner Brian Rosenstein, Human Relations Commissioner Tom Pease, former Beverly Hills City Councilwoman Linda J. Briskman, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and Los Angeles City Councilmen Eric Garcetti, Bill Rosendahl, Tom LaBonge and Richard Alarcon.

Bloom has received endorsements from Mayor , Malibu Mayor Laura Rosenthal, Santa Monica Mayor pro Tem Gleam Davis and Santa Monica Councilwoman Pam O'Connor.

The event will take place in the Multipurpose Room at Malibu City Hall, 23825 Stuart Ranch Road, Malibu, CA, 90265. The club's annual meeting begins at 11:45 a.m. The forum starts at 12:30 p.m.

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