Video: Rudy Martinez Speaks at Highland Park Forum

Shortly after learning he had earned the of the Los Angeles Times last Thursday evening, Council District 14 candidate and local business owner Rudy Martinez addressed community members prior to the 's bi-weekly meeting.

Martinez addressed issues ranging from on York Blvd., to the dismantling of the L.A.P.D. Northeast Division's to the possibility of introducing a motion to reduce the salaries of city council members.

The candidate, who has used his campaign to tout his record as a business owner and community booster, was at times pressed to be more specific about the issues facing Highland Park.

At one point, Martinez engaged in a halting back and forth with , President of the Northeast Democratic Club, who refused to accept Martinez's talk of assisting business owners when he asked a question about the biggest problems facing the community in Highland Park.

"Not business, the community, what are the biggest problems facing the community?" Strange said.

In fact, Martinez's lack of specificity on Highland Park related issues led to a spat between neighborhood council members Andrei Anson and Chris Smith.

Anson complained that Smith, who moderated the meeting, did not press Martinez hard enough to provide the audience anything but generalities.

"I'm a moderator, not an interrogator," Smith said. "If he doesn't provide any specifics that's his failing as a candidate."

Incumbent Jose Huizar will have his own chance to be grilled by the neighborhood council and community members on Thursday, January 17 at 7 p.m. at the Highland Park Senior Center on 6152 Figueroa St.