Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM) board member and Chair of Santa Monica’s Rent Control Board, Ericka Lesley has officially declared her candidacy for a seat on City Council.
Four seats will be up for election in November, all currently occupied by incumbents, namely Gleam Davis, Phil Brock, Oscar de la Torre and Christine Parra. Lesley is the second person to publicly announce an intent to run, but the formal paperwork to become a candidate won’t be available for several months. Dan Hall announced his candidacy a little under two months ago in March.
Lesley (43) has been on the board of DTSM for four years and was recently elected the first Black woman to chair the Rent Control Board. At the time of going to press, Lesley was set to publicly announce her run at this evening’s (Thursday, May 9) Rent Control Board meeting.
"The community has overwhelmingly asked me to run," Lesley said in a statement to the Daily Press. "I’m committed to making a positive impact on the community and making Santa Monica a better place to live, work and raise a family. I’m extremely excited to be running for City Council and I’m looking forward to expanding my ways to serve the community to build a brighter future for all," she said.
Her term on the board for DTSM is due to end in June of this year and should Lesley be elected to City Council, she will give up her position on the Rent Control Board in December, otherwise it will be 2026.
Lesley herself spent time experiencing homelessness, while raising three boys. She says that she was able to recover from that by "working myself half to death." She worked as a driver for both Lyft and Uber, but still struggled to get housing because of her low credit rating.
Regarding homelessness, Lesley said, "Our system is broken. All the other leaders that we have in the city are looking from the top down. I’ve been homeless. So I’ve come through that system. And I know where the cracks are."
Her campaign website, erickalesleyforcitycouncil.com which is already up says, "As a candidate for City Council, Ericka is committed to bringing her unique perspective and expertise to the table, advocating for policies that prioritize equity, inclusion and social justice. She believes that by working together, we can create a more just and equitable society where every individual has the opportunity to thrive."
According to Lesley, she has already secured endorsements, but says that she’s not willing to reveal them at this stage.
Candidates can declare an intent to run for office at any time, however there is a formal process that includes gathering 100 signatures and paying fees. That process will begin in July, but candidates often choose to announce a campaign in advance as means of securing funding and support.
