Four mayoral candidates participated in a debate moderated by senior Nick Spear to inform students and parents on their positions on important issues.

Candidates Kurt Schmalz, Gerard Bisignano, Ellen Allan and Mike Gin answered questions submitted by the approximately 40 students and parents who attended.

One issue that the candidates addressed was Proposition J, which allowed citizens to vote on what should take the place of the AES power plant on Catalina Avenue.

“We’re looking for a pulse,” councilman Bisignano said of his support for the Heart Park plan.

Allan, who was involved in the opposition to the original Heart of the City proposal, now supports Option A, the Heart Park proposal.

Another pressing concern was the upkeep of beaches in Redondo Beach. All four candidates were in agreement about the importance of storm drain and sewer upgrades in the city to protect the beaches.

The candidates were also questioned about their plans for the fee-based after school care program at Redondo Beach elementary schools that was free until last year.

“If we find out we’re making money off the program, I don’t know what we’re going to do,” Allan said.

Junior Josh Zager attended the debate with his mother and his father Nelson Zager, who is running for a position on the Redondo Beach school board.

“I went to see which would do a good job in our town,” Zager said. “They answered the questions and addressed them to a kids’ point of view.”