But Runner, one of four Republicans vying for the 36th Assembly District GOP nomination in the March primary, had anything but an easy time at the Monday-evening gathering.
She faced a barrage of criticism from the forum's only other participant, Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford, who withdrew from the race early and now is speaking for candidate Phil Wyman.
Current Assemblyman George Runner terms out this year, and the frontrunners to replace him appear to be his wife, Sharon, and Wyman, the conservative assemblyman now representing the Victor Valley and portions of Kern County. The other Republicans seeking the job are Palmdale City Councilman Mike Dispenza and Palmdale businessman Ollie McCaulley. Byron Bostic of Lancaster and Robert Davenport of Palmdale are the candidates for the Democratic nomination.
To qualify for the March election, Wyman, R-Tehachapi, established a voting address in Phelan, a San Bernardino community in his current 34th District and the redrawn 36th District.
The forum, at the home of Richard Loa, was open only to Republicans. Dispenza and McCaulley were not able to attend.
Ledford quickly went on the attack. He accused Sharon Runner of dividing the local Republican party through "power politics," of lying about the funding behind a summertime campaign poll and of engaging in nepotism to cash in on her husband's political success.
"Phil actually has experience, real experience," Ledford said. "He's served and represented our valley for many, many years."
Runner, a public relations consultant and GOP activist, responded by calling Wyman, who has served in Sacramento for close to two decades, the "ultimate career politician."
She pointed out that Wyman has moved repeatedly to qualify to run in various districts. Wyman has said that he moved because his old 34th District was gerrymandered during last year's redistricting process, the map-drawing that follows the U.S. Census every decade.
Runner said Wyman is an ineffective lawmaker, citing her endorsements by nine state senators, nine Assembly members and the five Victorville City Council members as proof of Wyman's lack of respect in Sacramento.
State lawmakers support Runner "because they've been working with (Wyman) and they've seen his ineffectiveness," Runner said. "Why are Victorville (officials) supporting me? Because he doesn't respond to their phone calls."
She said she is well-versed in policy-making and has plenty of contacts in Sacramento through her work in the capital with her husband.
Ledford also attacked George Runner's record, saying the assemblyman has put forth no legislation to fund improvements to Highway 138 or to increase the number of California Highway Patrol officers in the Valley.
Sharon Runner said her husband, who has been the ranking Republican on the budget committee, has been able to secure funding for Highway 138 through the budget process.
The sometimes-heated debate underscored the battle lines within the local GOP: Ledford, a maverick and moderate Palmdale Republican, has crossed swords repeatedly with the conservative Lancaster Republican establishment headed by George Runner, businessman Frank Visco and attorney R. Rex Parris.
In October, Ledford sharply criticized the Antelope Valley Republican Assembly, the conservative Lancaster-based group whose endorsed candidates often run against candidates backed by Ledford and his supporters.
Monday's debate got personal at times, with Ledford pointing out Runner's support for candidates opposing Ledford for the Palmdale mayoral race.
"I've been attacked by Republicans in every (election) I've run in, by the groups that back this woman right here," he said, pointing to Runner.
"Right now we're not talking about you and myself, we're talking about Phil and myself," Runner said at one point.
After the vote was taken, Ledford implied that the local endorsements flowing to Runner are coming from "peer pressure." He challenged Congress of Republicans members to "go against the peer pressure and find out what real leadership is like."
Dean Henderson, incoming president of the Congress of Republicans, said he wasn't surprised by the contentious nature of the forum.
"You can't really avoid it," Henderson said. "They both have
passionate opinions about their positions."