Four of the six candidates vying for state Assembly District 66, which covers the South Bay area, attended a local League of Women Voters forum in Torrance last week to discuss education, housing, gas prices, and the environment. Sara Deen, a dentist and president of the local Palos Verdes Peninsula school board, Scott Houston, Jessica Maldonado, and former Hermosa Beach Mayor George Barks were among the candidates. Deen emphasized the importance of understanding the downstream impact of legislation passed, particularly on education funding. Houston also highlighted the need for adequate funding for schools and suggested students should be prepared for all types of employment following high school graduation, not just college. Barks supported increasing local control over local housing.