BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- The candidates vying to represent Bakersfield's Ward 2 in the city council debated the issues affecting residents Tuesday night at our KGET studios. Vice Mayor Andrae Gonzales and businessman Michael Cardenas were asked questions about major issues affecting the downtown Bakersfield area including homelessness, crime, housing and its affordability. The debate was moderated by 17's Alex Fisher and Jenny Huh. Andrae Gonzales is the incumbent in the race. In a candidate profile this week he said he's running for re-election to the Bakersfield City Council Ward 2 seat because there's so much left to do. Gonzales first took office in 2016. Valadao, Salas spar over issues in debate for CA’s 22nd Congressional District seat Michael Cardenas is relatively new to Bakersfield. He moved to Bakersfield from the Los Angeles area 2019. He is a businessman but is familiar with Kern County. He said growing up, he would come and visit the Kern River Valley for fishing trips with family. In a profile this week, Cardenas said he first entered Bakersfield politics by seeing the seat not being contested. The incumbent was not challenged in 2020. "I thought to myself 'That's just not right,'" he said. "I felt obligated to give it a try." He attended city council meetings and got caught up on the process. This debate was broadcast on KGET-TV and streamed on KGET.com on Oct. 8, 2024. Watch a replay of the full debate above.