Dear Editor:
I have lived in Culver City for more than 50 years, and at over 80 years old, I’ve watched a great many City Council elections come and go. I cannot recall one that troubled me as much as what I’ve just learned about this year’s Culver City Democrats United forum.
By his own account, candidate Franklin Carvajal was never contacted or invited to the CCDU candidate forum on August 17 — an event where four of his five fellow candidates for City Council appeared side by side, debated the issues, and made their case to voters. Dr. Carvajal did not decline. He did not no-show. He says he was simply never notified or asked.
If that is true, it is indefensible. A club that puts “Democrats United” in its name and hosts itself as a public service to voters has a basic obligation to invite every qualified candidate on the ballot, not just the ones it prefers. Leaving one candidate out — deliberately or through carelessness — denies him a fair shot at reaching voters and denies the rest of us the chance to hear from everyone before we vote. There is nothing small about that. It is, plainly, undemocratic — and painfully ironic coming from an organization with “Democrats” in its title.
I believe CCDU owes Dr. Carvajal, and the voting public, a full and honest explanation: How were invitations decided? Who was responsible for the list? And what will be done to make sure every candidate is heard before November 3?
Culver City deserves elections conducted in the open, where every candidate gets an equal chance to speak to the people who will decide their future. I hope CCDU will address this directly, and soon.
Respectfully,
Paulette Greenberg
