WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- The first debate in the recall election could have taken place in Los Angeles or San Francisco -- instead the spotlight Wednesday night will shine on this affluent San Francisco Bay area suburb.

Once a Republican stronghold, the city of 64,000 residents is now about one-third Democrat and one-third Republican, with the rest a mix of nonpartisan voters or those registered with third parties. Residents such as Mayor Gwen Regalia say this balance makes for a level political playing field.

"Walnut Creek is a very good definition of a very moderate community," she said. Residents "tend to support moderate candidates regardless of their political party."

Gov. Gray Davis and five candidates on the replacement ballot -- Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante; Republicans Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Northridge, and businessman Peter Ueberroth; Independent commentator Arianna Huffington; and Green Party candidate Peter Camejo -- will take the stage of the downtown Dean Lesher Regional Center beginning at 4 p.m. The candidates will have a chance to field questions about why they're running in the Oct. 7 special election.

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Watch The Recall Forum Live At 4 p.m. PDT

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The attention comes as the city has honed its reputation as a shopping destination, where high-end stores have stayed open despite the economic downturn. A new Tiffany & Co. jewelry store opened in May.

Locals hope Wednesday's debate will bring even more cachet to the city 24 miles east of San Francisco.

"Obviously having anything with this much attention is a great coup," said Cheri Sprenger, executive director for the Downtown Business Association. "It speaks about what our city is and what our downtown is."

Walnut Creek beat out 11 other proposed venues, thanks in part to the initiative of local political reporters and cooperation between the Contra Costa County Times and the Bay Area broadcast stations KTVU Channel 2 and KQED-FM. The forum will be broadcast live on local and national television, including C-SPAN.

Security around the area will be extra tight. The center will be searched for bombs before the event, and traffic on both sides of the building will be closed between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.