We are only one day away from the deadline to submit nominating petitions for City Council, so we should know the full ballot in the coming days. Last week, the pro-housing advocacy group Abundant Housing L.A. (AHLA) announced their endorsements, and it included a now-familiar set of names. AHLA endorsed the “United Democrats Slate” of Dan Hall, Ellis Raskin, Barry Snell and Natalya Zernitskaya for the four city council seats up for election this November.
The United Democrats Slate has attracted the endorsement of many groups choosing to make early endorsements including local staples such as Santa Monicans for Renters Rights, the Santa Monica Democratic Club, and Santa Monica Forward as well as regional organizations such as the Westside Young Democrats and the Sierra Club.
AHLA explains the criteria they use in evaluating candidates as, “Being endorsed by AHLA signifies a commitment to creating a more affordable, inclusive, and sustainable Los Angeles.…An AHLA endorsement means you are part of a dedicated effort to address the housing crisis, promote equitable development, and support diverse communities.”
While nominating petitions are still being returned, more candidates are qualifying for the ballot. Joining the United Democrats and the “Change Slate” incumbents Phil Brock and Oscar de la Torre as qualified candidates are John Putnam and Vivian Rokanian. Rent Control Board Chair Ericka Lesley and Marcus Owens have submitted her petition but hasn’t yet been certified.
With incumbent Christine Parra announcing that she will not be running for re-election, the “Change Slate” has two openings. According to the Santa Monica Lookout, Brock has stated that he and de la Torre are waiting for the final candidate list to select potential running mates to fill out their slate. The Lookout also reported that the Police and Fire Fighters unions will also be making endorsements after the candidate list is finalized.
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