Mayoral Debate in Runoff Election Announced, KPCC’s Larry Mantle to Moderate

A live, televised debate between Pasadena’s mayoral candidates Jacque Robinson and Terry Tornek that will be moderated by Larry Mantle, the host of 89.3 FM KPCC’s AirTalk radio show, beginning at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 7, at the Pasadena Convention Center was announced today.

Pasadena Councilmembers Tornek and Robinson are in the run-off election for Pasadena’s Office of Mayor after receiving the highest percentage of votes in the March 10 primary race, with no single candidate receiving more than 50% percent of the total votes. The run-off election is April 21, 2015. The winner will be the first directly elected mayor for Pasadena in 16 years and only the second directly elected mayor in the City’s history.

Questions will be provided in several formats, including questions submitted by the homeowner groups and neighborhood associations throughout Pasadena. Questions will also come from person-on-the-street interviews conducted by producers from the Arroyo Channel and questions submitted by the public via social media platforms Twitter and Facebook.

The event will be televised by Pasadena Media, which oversees the Public, Education and Government (PEG) cable television stations serving Pasadena. The debate will be simulcast on the Arroyo Channel, the community access station and KPAS, the government access station. KPAS is available on Channel 3 and the Arroyo Channel is seen on Channel 32 for Charter subscribers. KPAS and the Arroyo Channel are both available on the AT&T U-Verse platform on Channel 99/Pasadena.

The event will be streamed live on the websites for Pasadena Media, www.pasadenamedia.tv and the City’s website at www.cityofpasadena.net/Media. The debate will be re-broadcast prior to the election.

Mantle has been the host of AirTalk on KPCC since April of 1985. AirTalk, online at www.scpr.org/programs/AirTalk, is the longest continuously running daily talk program in the Los Angeles radio market. Mr. Mantle is one of Southern California’s most respected and well-known journalists and radio broadcasters.

Seating will be available on a first-come basis beginning at 6:30 p.m. The debate will last at least 60 minutes, followed by a brief meet-and-greet opportunity by the candidates with audience members.

The Pasadena Convention Center, www.visitpasadena.com, is providing forum space. The League of Women Voters, Pasadena area, www.lwv-pa.org will lend assistance in preparing the questions for the candidates.