Student activists in Bruin Democrats prioritized local politics over sleep on Saturday morning and ventured to Hollywood to listen to a heated debate between Los Angeles city attorney candidates.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Jack Weiss and Carmen Trutanich engaged in their first public debate before the May 19 election for city attorney on Saturday, which resulted in an exchange of insults and snide remarks between the candidates and from members of the audience.
A group of Bruin Democrats attended in support of Weiss, who the club endorsed, before returning to UCLA to hold a phone bank in the Kerckhoff Art Gallery on behalf of four different causes, including Weiss’ candidacy.
Flavia De La Fuente, issues director of Bruin Democrats, said the phone bank succeeded in making 731 calls in four hours, 245 of which were for Weiss.
“We had people from lots of different organizations there,” she added. “They were extremely motivated.”
Members of Bruin Democrats said they were excited that their organization gave them the opportunity to get more involved in all types of politics.
Kyle Hebert, a second-year political science student, said he became more motivated to be involved after going to Las Vegas with the Bruin Democrats at the beginning of the year to campaign for Obama.
Kyla Coates, a second-year political science student, said she enjoys the opportunity to learn from peers with similar passions.
“It’s really important to be involved in local elections,” Coates added. “Clubs are awesome because they provide so many opportunities that you don’t have anywhere else.”
Many members of the Bruin Democrats feel the importance of involvement extends even to less well-known races such as that for city attorney.
“Right now the nature of the city-attorney race is really nasty and (does not give) a lot of hope and change for the future, so it is critical that people our age get involved,” De La Fuente said.
“In the short run, it may not feel like we’re making a big difference in the (race and role of the city attorney), but our investment will affect it in the long run,” she added.
At the debate on Saturday, the candidates discussed issues such as gangs in Los Angeles, women’s rights, pedestrian safety, neighborhood councils, gun laws and endorsements.
However, the debate proved as nasty as the race, as both the candidates and audience made agitated comments.
Trutanich has been accused of defending clients whose actions, such as oil drilling, contradict the typical interests of environmental lawyers like him. As a result, Weiss repeatedly asked Trutanich to disclose his clients and also accused him of being “a walking, talking conflict of interest.”
Trutanich said that Weiss “feels he’s entitled to this job, but he’s not because he’s done nothing to deserve it.”
Trutanich also criticized Weiss’ connection to the mayor and criticized him for being indecisive and inexperienced.
The strong audience reaction, which involved booing and snide comments, including one questioning the presence of UCLA students, prompted the moderator to remind people to be respectful.
“I was disappointed with the people in the room,” Coates said. “They made me dislike (Trutanich) because they were rude.”
Carrie McFadden, a third-year political science student, also said she was turned off by the reactions of the audience and their obvious dislike of and attack on the presence of UCLA students.
“We’re registered voters, too,” she said. “We have just as much of a right to be here.”