ASSEMBLY CANDIDATES SQUARE OFF HOPEFULS FOCUS ON THEIR DIFFERENCES.

Byline: ALEX DOBUZINSKIS Staff Writer

GLENDALE - The Republican described himself as an immigrant and a proud American, the Libertarian spoke of a golden age without government interference, one Democrat promised to rebuild infrastructure and the other Democrat said he is a reformer.

The all-candidate debate for the 43rd Assembly District race - held Monday night at the Glendale Unified School District headquarters - was mostly free of personal attacks. But in a wide-ranging discussion before about 60 people, the candidates tried to show how they differed from each other.

"I'm a proud immigrant and I'm so proud to be in this country and what it stands for," said Republican Michael Agbaba, who was born in Yugoslavia and grew up in Australia.

After listening to the two Democratic candidates list their endorsements, Agbaba said he is different because he has no ties to "special-interest groups."

Democrat and Glendale City Councilman Frank Quintero spoke about helping homeless veterans after he came back from fighting in the Vietnam War, while fellow Democrat and Burbank school board member Paul Krekorian said California has changed from when he grew up.

"We built the great highway systems, we built the great university systems, we built aqueducts that made the deserts bloom," Krekorian said. "We had big ideas, we had positive visions of the future and we had the courage to set about building that future."

The state needs to reclaim that momentum, said Krekorian, who works as an attorney.

Quintero, who for decades ran an employment-training business called Alliance for Education, said he is open to new ideas. That includes supporting school vouchers, which Krekorian opposes.

"By saying that I am a reform candidate, I am interested in anything that's going to challenge the status quo," Quintero said. "That's going to look at new ways of, in this case, delivering educational service to students."

Libertarian candidate Steve Myers wants no government involvement in providing education or health care, and he favors a flat tax.

"I think I'm the only candidate who wants to limit what the state does and give that power back to the people of this state and this district," Myers said.

Previous generations enjoyed the benefits of private industry - services like a streetcar line that passed through Burbank and Glendale - because government was smaller, Myers said.

Krekorian and Quintero will face each other in a June 6 primary, and the winner will battle Agbaba and Myers in the Nov. 7 election. The seat is open because Assemblyman Dario Frommer, D-Glendale, is termed out.

alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com

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