By Malachi Kudura, Contributing Writer
Thursday, May 18th, 2023, the San Diego County District 4 Supervisor Special Election Candidate Forum at the Copley Price YMCA took place. The forum was hosted by Shane Harris, President and Founder of People’s Association of Justice Advocates. Members of the community attentively listened to the candidates in the San Diego County District 4 special election.
The topics discussed, “The County’s Response to Homelessness & a New Way of Looking at the County’s Foster Care System.” Special Election candidates Janessa Goldbeck and Amy Reichert were both in attendance for this forum, but missing from the event was candidate Monica Montgomery Steppe.
San Diego City Councilwoman Monica Montgomery Steppe tweeted, “Charging money for this event disadvantages the very people it is supposed to be helping.” She continued, “That’s why I will not be participating tonight.”
Shane Harris addressed the attendees to clear the air and said, “Two hundred dollars is not why she’s not here. She is not here tonight because she does not want to address these questions.”
Kenya Taylor, President of NAACP San Diego Chapter, asked both candidates “Why should my sons vote for you?” Janessa Goldbeck answered, “We need to encourage our younger generation to be more involved in voting. The [more young] folks [who] come out to vote, the more they are going to get leaders who listen and want to build a world they want to live in.” Amy Reichert responded, “I would tell your sons, I will fight for them, I will fight for their civil rights.”
