ASSEMBLY CANDIDATES SQUARE OFF AVCOC SPONSORS FORUM.

Byline: Charles F. Bostwick Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Assembly candidates from three political parties answered questions at a televised forum about crowded highways and schools, tax laws and tax increases, workers' compensation costs and creating jobs.

In between, Republicans Phil Wyman and Sharon Runner interjected criticism of each other, Republican Ollie McCaulley and Wyman jabbed at Gov. Gray Davis, and Democrat Robert Davenport said refusing to get along with the party in power won't help the 36th District.

Green Party nominee Tom Bolema, the only candidate who doesn't face an opponent March 5, sounded conservative for his affiliation - he spoke against tax increases, except for large corporations - but took a stance unusual locally by calling for defense cuts.

Democrat Byron Bostic suggested imposing new taxes on snacks, beer or luxury items, or restoring vehicle license fees to pay for highways.

Republican Mike Dispenza introduced himself with a joke that since he entered politics he has hesitated to mention he holds a B.S. degree.

Televised live on Adelphia Channel 3, the Friday night forum was sponsored by the Antelope Valley Chambers of Commerce and moderated by veteran local newsman Larry Grooms.

Most of the prepared questions had a business focus, and organizers forbade the written questions from the Lancaster City Hall audience from being personal or directed at a single candidate.

Some of the candidates returned to consistent themes during the nearly two-hour forum.

Wyman, who has represented parts or all of the Antelope Valley in Sacramento since 1978 - with two hiatuses in the 1990s - and is the current 34th District assemblyman, several times brought up his Sacramento experience, mentioning legislation he has authored or is working on.

``It's not the time for us to have on-the-job training for our Assembly member,'' Wyman said.

Runner, an Antelope Valley Fair board member whose husband, George, is the present 36th District assemblyman, jabbed the years Wyman has spent in Sacramento and made an oblique reference to her charge that Wyman moves his residence to fit political opportunities.

``I know I'm not a professional politician,'' Runner said, ``but I am a local leader who has been here since Day One.''

Wyman, in an answer about workers' compensation costs, worked in a remark about ``trial lawyers'' in asking Runner if she supported her husband's bill that would extend the legal deadline for filing lawsuits.

To a question about taxes, Runner interjected a reference to ``Phil's Pinocchio problem'' and accused Wyman of lying about his legislative accomplishments and opposition to taxes.

McCaulley said he was the only one of the seven candidates to be recommended for a Bush administration job - as a secretary's representative for the Housing and Urban Development Department in California.

``We definitely need a representative who can work with the other side of the aisle. That doesn't have to be a Democrat,'' McCaulley said.

When asked what California could do to improve its business climate, McCaulley joked: ``Besides giving the governor a free airline ticket?'' McCaulley also said he'd sue Davis if necessary to release funding for the Lancaster veterans home, approved by California voters in a ballot measure.

Davenport said he was endorsed by the Assembly's new speaker, Democrat Herb Wesson of Los Angeles, and said the Republicans who have represented the Antelope Valley in Sacramento for 24 years have failed to get the valley its fair share of the taxes it pays.

``It's important to have a representative who can work with the Democratic majority. That's not very savory to some people, but it's a reality,'' Davenport said. ``Most of the people sitting here tonight act like they're running against Gray Davis.''

Dispenza, Palmdale's vice mayor, said he's already working at the state level as a representative to the League of California Cities.

Government's role is to serve the people, he said.

``It is not to tax us to death. It is not to run the businesses off,'' Dispenza said. ``I don't believe you go into office for self-service, but to serve others.''

Bostic proposed turning the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds and empty valley stores into movie and sound studios and promoting Air Force Plant 42 and the former George Air Force Base in Victorville for international cargo flights.

Bostic drew a laugh when he said, ``I think I'm qualified because I'm not a lawyer, I'm not a politician or related to one.''

Bolema said Antelope Valley should adopt policies that will let it avoid the congestion, crime and pollution most of its residents moved to escape.

The Green Party, he said, believes in a progressive income tax, publicly owned utilities, nonviolence, decentralization, feminism and ecological wisdom, among other principles.

``The Green Party is not politics as usual,'' Bolema said.