COLLEGE STUDENTS ATTEND TIGHTLY SCRIPTED DEBATES.

Byline: Janette Williams Staff Writer

PASADENA - Under a tight format that kept candidates on message, on time and on prearranged topics, more than 300 college students got a look Tuesday at Assembly, state Senate and congressional candidates, including those seeking to represent the Glendale and Burbank areas.

The Associated Students of Pasadena City College, which set up the forum, provided most of the written questions on subjects judged most relevant to student voters: public education, public safety and public transportation.

The candidates stuck closely to positions detailed in their campaign literature distributed outside the student center lounge.

State Sen. Adam Schiff, whose contest with Republican congressman James Rogan for District 27 is one of the the closest and most closely watched nationwide, went one on one with Libertarian Ted Brown. Rogan - citing business in the nation's capital - and Natural Law Party candidate Marion R. Hospodar did not attend.

In reply to a question about upping eligibility for financial aid, Schiff said he would work to raise the income level to allow more students to qualify.

``I didn't qualify because of my family income level and I had to borrow at 9, 12 and 14 percent - I hope you never have to do that,'' Schiff said, recalling his own student days. ``Ten years after I graduated, my (loan repayments) exceeded my rent.''

Libertarian Brown raised a few scattered cheers of his own when he spoke about getting government out of people's lives.

``You have a right to do pretty much what you want to do, and everyone in government seems to have a plan to run your life,'' Brown said, promising to repeal laws, including decriminalizing drugs, if elected.

All three candidates for the 21st State Senate District attended: Assemblyman Jack Scott, D-Pasadena, a former PCC president; South Pasadena Councilman Paul Zee, the Republican candidate; and Libertarian challenger Bob New, a Glendale businessman.

Scott pledged to continue bipartisan efforts to improve schools, increase gun safety and finish the Pasadena Blue Line light-rail extension.

``When I was on the Transportation Commission, I was a strong advocate for the Blue Line, with Adam Schiff,'' Scott said.

New, who called mass transit a badly run government monopoly and said the Blue Line should not be built, said Republican and Democratic candidates always pledge to improve schools and cut crime but nothing changes.

``It keeps getting worse and worse,'' New said. ``We need moral leadership, and they're trying to use force of law.''