The problem with candidate forums - at least in comparatively smaller cities like Downey - is that candidates often play it safe. Too safe. They’re evasive in their answers or read from a script, careful not to alienate voters. And with voter turnout at historically low levels, every vote counts, particularly in special elections.

Downey is hosting two special elections this November with big implications. Voters in District 1 and 3 will elect two new members to the City Council, dramatically changing the look of our local government and charting the course for Downey’s future. The two new members will join Claudia Frometa, Mario Trujillo and Hector Sosa as Downey’s elected policymakers.

On Thursday night, five of the six candidates participated in a forum hosted by the Downey Chamber of Commerce and Downey Patriot. Moderated by retired television news anchor Dave Lopez, candidates were grilled about various topics of local concern.

As expected, candidates were guarded in their answers and didn’t offer any grand visions for Downey. Instead, they were mostly content to paint themselves as ordinary, vanilla residents — perhaps not the worst strategy for a city still wary of controversy.

Below are my takeaways from last week’s important event but I encourage you to watch a video recording of the forum and draw your own conclusions. A recording is available on the Patriot’s Facebook page.

DISTRICT 1

Candidates include Ramon Casas Jr., Elvira Meraz and Horacio Ortiz, each looking to fill the seat vacated by Blanca Pacheco after she was elected to the state Assembly.

Meraz did not participate in the forum due to reported illness. Her absence came on the heels of a Downey Patriot story reporting a restraining order was filed against her by her husband’s first wife.

Meanwhile, Casas and Ortiz could not be more different, both in style and politics. Casas is an unabashed conservative, as he reminded the audience several times. Although local elections are non-partisan, Casas leaned hard into his conservative politics, perhaps because he’s so green on local issues.

Casas promised pay raises for city employees but didn’t say where the money would come from. He wrongly accused Downey Mayor Claudia Frometa of rejecting a request by the police chief to hire more police officers (the opposite is true; Frometa voted to increase signing bonuses to recruit more lateral officers). Casas claimed to have the connections necessary to bring in retailers such as Trader Joe’s, Sprouts and Dave & Busters but was vague in details. (By the way, you don’t need to be a council member to do such things.)

Casas criticized the soft-on-crime policies of Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon and Mayor Pro Tem Mario Trujillo, who previously worked with Gascon and is supporting Ortiz. Casas referenced the recent killing of a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy in Palmdale.

“There was a police officer recently who was killed – an Anglo-American man was killed because the person who killed him is claiming mental disability,” Casas said.

Ortiz, for his part, came off as timid and soft-spoken, perhaps spooked by his boisterous opponent. But what he lacked in style he compensated for with substance, touting his experience on the Downey planning commission.

Ortiz shared his role in securing an agreement for Shake Shack to open in Downey (projected to open next year at Firestone Boulevard and Downey Avenue) and he reminded the audience that he was the only planning commissioner to vote against Ojos Locos, the controversial sports bar in Downtown Downey.

Ortiz defended himself against allegations that he was hand-selected by Trujillo to run for the District 1 seat and said he sometimes disagrees with Trujillo on policy.

Casas and Ortiz agree on several issues, including local rent control (both are against it) and marijuana dispensaries (against). And neither supports Homekey, a state and county plan to purchase motels and turn them into permanent or transitional housing for the homeless.

Casas said he does not support an LGBTQ pride festival in Downey. Surprisingly – and, in my view, disappointingly – Ortiz, who is gay, agreed, ignoring an opportunity to defend a marginalized segment of the Downey population.

DISTRICT 3

District 3 covers northwest Downey; this seat was vacated by the recall of Catherine Alvarez. Three candidates are running: Gil Legaspi, Dorothy Pemberton and Ernesto Valle.

From the beginning, most people have said this race is between Pemberton and Legaspi for the simple reason they have the most resources and connections to run serious campaigns. They are spending tens of thousands of dollars to win your vote.

Pemberton and Legaspi are both real estate brokers. Pemberton is a longtime civic volunteer and Legaspi is a reserve LAPD officer.

Valle is the underdog but don’t tell him that. He’s loud, entertaining and knows how to get attention. At the forum, he declared that he is “not a politician” while dramatically ripping off his tie.

But like Casas, Valle doesn’t seem to have a firm grasp on local issues, except for the matter of parks. As former president of Northwest Downey Little League, he is knowledgeable about the challenges facing youth sports leagues, particularly in regards to parking and fields. He is a proponent of installing lights at Furman Park, and to alleviate parking concerns, he suggests building a three-story parking structure at Furman, with tennis courts on the top floor. It sounds ridiculous, if well-intentioned.

Pemberton and Legaspi publicly agree on most issues – no to rent control, marijuana and Homekey. They of course want to hire more police officers and make Downey safer.

But Legaspi criticized Pemberton for being supported by former Downey council members, specifically calling out former mayor Rick Rodriguez, who was in attendance. Legaspi labeled himself as an independent thinker – although he failed to mention he is supported by Trujillo and former mayor Fernando Vasquez – and said his law enforcement experience gives him unique insight into improving public safety in Downey.

Pemberton ignored the theatrics and came across as cool, calm and confident. She is too nice to lob insults at her opponents and instead spoke about her extensive volunteer work that goes back decades. In her remarks, Pemberton was a striking reminder of the “old Downey,” when the city council was composed of thoughtful civic leaders like Dave Gafin and Roger Brossmer, who thought before they spoke and genuinely cared about their community.

Voters now have difficult decisions to make. Who do you trust to move Downey forward?