Emanuel Pleitez

He's just 26 and making his first election bid in a crowded field of candidates that includes two seasoned, well-financed officeholders -- just the sort of hopeful who usually gets lost in the pack. But Emanuel Pleitez has collected enough money -- much of it in online donations from across the nation -- to put on a substantive mail campaign, bolstered by an energetic staff of young volunteers.

A local accountant has entered the race for the San Gabriel Valley-based congressional seat vacated by Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. Jim Hetzel, who until now has worked as controller of a family-owned construction business, said his business experience is what's needed to help steer the country during bad economic times. "We need financial professionals to help resolve these problems," said Hetzel, a Republican. The Democrats in the race are state Sen. Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles)

Faced with wide-ranging questions on complex issues and strict time constraints, 11 candidates for a vacant congressional seat vied to distinguish themselves from the pack at a League of Women Voters forum in Baldwin Park on Wednesday night. All but one of the 12 contenders in the May 19 special election for the 32nd Congressional District seat took advantage of what is likely to be the only public forum open to them all. And it enabled those without much campaign money to get some free exposure.