Last week at this time, there were almost two dozen names being bandied about as potential candidates for City Council. But after the City Clerk has verified signatures, only ten candidates remain. The United Democratic Slate of four challengers, two “Change Slate” incumbents, and four other challengers.
The United Democratic Slate of Dan Hall, Ellis Raskin, Barry Snell, and Natalya Zernitskaya formed relatively early in the year. In-part because of their progressive views on housing and in-part because of their volunteer work on city commissions and with various non-profits; the quartet earned endorsements from local groups such as the Santa Monica Democratic Club and Santa Monicans for Renters Rights as well as regional organizations including the Sierra Club.
After Gleam Davis and Christine Parra announced they would NOT be seeking re-election, only two incumbent candidates remain: Mayor Phil Brock and Councilmember Oscar de la Torre. The two were part of the Change Slate in 2020 that surprised many by ousting incumbent Councilmembers and are looking to recreate that momentum again.
John Putnam and Dr. Vivian A. Roknian are likely to officially join or at least campaign with the Change Slate. Putnam and Rokinian are backed by Santa Monicans United, an organization focused on increasing the amount of resources given to the police department and promoting more aggressive law enforcement. Santa Monicans United is also very enthusiastic about preserving parking garages.
There are two other challengers. Rent control board chair Ericka Lesley has been campaigning as long as the United Democratic Slate, but hasn’t found the same traction as that quartet in the endorsement game. Given her progressive politics and staunch defense of rent control, the Lookout (and others) have openly speculated she could play spoiler for a candidate in the United Slate. ***
Rounding out the field is Promenade street performer “Guitar Guy” Wade Kelley.
There is some competition in the race for school board. Four candidates are seeking three seats including incumbents Jon Kean, Maria Leon-Vazquez and Jennifer Smith and literacy coach Christine Falaguerra.
Also on the ballot will be three measures that if approved will raise nearly $10 million annually for the city and $450 million for Santa Monica public schools.
Santa Monica Next has already endorsed the proposed school bond, which would be used to repair and replace older equipment and classrooms throughout the city. In addition a Business License Tax Modernization ($3 million annually) and Parking Facility Tax ($6.7 million annually) will also be on the ballot. Expect more coverage of those measures in the coming weeks.
In the other two races, there were the same number of seats open as candidates that sought them. As a result, Kay Ambriz and Phillis Dudick will “win” seats on the Rent Control Board and Margaret Quinones-Perez, Rod Greenstein Rader and Anastasia Foster will do the same on the college board in the November election.
*** – An early version of this article claimed that Lesley was the only candidate not on the Change Slate that was elected to city-wide office. Barry Snell has won multiple elections to the SMC, CCCT and School Board.
