Candidate Forums Saturday in El Cerrito

The El Cerrito Democratic Club is hosting candidate forums for local contested races at El Cerrito High School Saturday. Also to be discussed are two ballot measures for the West Contra Costa Unified School District.

"We are inviting the whole community to come help us celebrate democracy by learning more about the candidates in each of this year's biggest contested local races," said Jason Freeman, a Democratic Club member who's helping organize the event.

The program will begin at 12:30 p.m. with an informal gathering with refreshments where candidates and community members can meet and talk.

The forums will be divided into two sessions. The first session, beginning at 1 p.m., will include three races for board seats:

• BART
• AC Transit

The second session, beginning at 3:30 p.m., will feature school board candidates for the West Contra Costa Unified School District, where for two seats on the five-member board.

Also to be discussed in the second session are , one for extending the current parcel tax for academic programs and the other for a construction bond to rebuild or upgrade aging schools.

The four school board candidates include incumbent Antonio Medrano and three newcomers: retired principal Randall Enos, parent/school volunteer Todd Groves, and business man Robert Studdiford. 

Members of Democratic Club will vote on endorsements following the forums in each session.

A separate forum will be held for the at the Democratic Club's Aug. 28 meeting at Zion Presbyterian Church, 545 Ashbury Ave., in El Cerrito. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., with the forum expected to begin about 7 p.m. Three candidates are running for the three open seats on the council.