THE ANTELOPE VALLEY AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INVIGORATES COMMUNITY WITH AV PRIME RIB &am

What better way to bust voter apathy than to invite the community to enjoy some prime rib with political talk? The Antelope Valley African American Chamber of Commerce hosted a fantastic event Friday, April 08, 2016

Where the Antelope Valley community, be they Democrat, Republican, Independent or undeclared, dined together enjoying good food and good company at the Larry Chimbole Cultural Center in Palmdale, California.

This free and open event offered community members an opportunity to mingle

with each other and the candidates running for both federal and state offices. In hosting this event, they sought to dispel voter apathy that has plagued our community through this unique approach to political dialogue.

The Antelope Valley African American Chamber of commerce stated that, “It was our wish to host an event that nurtures the needs of our community, allowing citizens to engage in the political process at no cost to them.” Donations provided to support this event were made by all the participating candidates, Mission Linen, Southern California Gas Company and Steven Benson.

While not every candidate running for federal and state office was available for this event, the following candidates attended and engaged the audience: for US Congress, Lou Vince, Bryan Cafario, Wendy Reed and Karen Roseberry; for State Senate: Johnathon Ervin, Steve Hill and Assemblymember Scott Wilk; for State Assembly: Assemblymember Tom Lackey, Steve Fox and Darren Parker. This event was packed with inquisitive community members armed with pencils and papers to anonymously submit questions to the aforementioned candidates. Subjects addressed in those questions included immigration, cyber

security, jobs and infrastructure as well as what super hero would the candidates be if they could be a super hero and who would be their sidekick.

This event was mostly lighthearted providing the community with a precursory introduction to the candidates seeking to represent us in our federal and state governments. If you attended and your question did not get asked, no worries you have several more months until Election Day to get those answers. If you did not attend, what are you waiting for? Get out

there and start talking to your fellow community members and the candidates. This is our home and our issues and concerns cannot be addressed unless we start talking to each other and the candidates

avdailynews.com/staff/contributor/Karakerr