The first wave of candidates for elected office in November’s election pulled application paperwork on Monday, setting the stage for a hectic several months.
Candidates were able to pull papers at Monday’s Candidate Workshop in Council Chambers of Santa Monica City Hall, with candidates for City Council, Rent Control Board, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) Board of Education and Santa Monica College Board grabbing papers during the day. Eligible candidates must be United States citizens, at least 18 years old on or before Election Day, and registered voters in the jurisdiction when Nomination Papers are issued.
Pulling papers for Santa Monica City Council, with four seats up for grabs for four-year terms, were the following candidates: Whitney Bain, Lawrence Doherty Jr., Stephen Garr, Dan Hall, Janet McLaughlin, Manju Raman, Ellis Raskin and Natalya Zernitskaya.
Though not as hectic as the Council race, the three other elected offices had candidates pull papers as well. Both Kay Ambriz and Phillis Dudick put their hat into the race for the Rent Control Board, with two seats available for four-year terms.
In educational office races, former Rent Control Board Chair Anastasia Foster was the lone name thus far to pull papers for the Santa Monica College Board, with three seats available for four-year terms. For the SMMUSD Board of Education race, Christine Falaguerra pulled papers alongside SMMUSD Board of Education President Jennifer Smith and Board Vice President Jon Kean.
Nominations will continue through August 9, though the date may be extended through August 14 for a specific office if at least one incumbent in that office declines to run for reelection. Those who fail to file during the nomination period can still qualify for the election as write-in candidates, pending filing required paperwork by October 22.
For elected office, candidates must establish a Campaign Committee to raise or spend money in support of their election, required to file a Statement of Organization with the Secretary of State and set up an electronic filing account through the City Clerk’s Office (though specific contribution limitations apply to Council or Rent Control Board candidates). Furthermore, candidates need at least 100 valid signatures from registered voters in their jurisdiction to qualify for the ballot, as well as fees for filing and submitting a Candidate Statement for the Sample Ballot.
After the nomination period ends, elected candidates with Campaign Committees must file semi-annual statements until the Committee is terminated, with specific laws such as the Taxpayer Protection law and Levine Act applying to winning Council or Rent Control Board candidates.
