Santa Monica Community College Trustee Barry Snell, a lifelong Democrat with extensive ties to the Santa Monica community and its educational institutions, has announced his campaign for Santa Monica City Council.
“I am running for City Council to keep Santa Monica affordable for everyone, protect renters and restore public safety,” Snell said. “As a small business owner, certified public accountant and Santa Monica Community College Trustee, I have the experience and record of real results our city needs.”
“As a College Trustee, I took direct action to build affordable housing to keep our students out of homelessness,” Snell said. “As a member of the Board of Education for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, I worked to ensure that our children received one of the best educations in the nation. Our community is tired of the petty partisan politics that have stalled progress on affordable housing, homelessness and safety. We need a councilmember with a proven record of problem solving.”
Prior to serving on the SMC and the California State Board of Trustees, Snell was a member of the Board of Education for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District from 2006 to 2010, serving as its President in 2009. He has also served as Vice President of Health and Safety and Vice President of Community Relations of the Santa Monica-Malibu PTA Executive Board and as President of the African American Parent Student Staff Support Group for Santa Monica High School.
Snell was previously a member of SMC’s Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, which oversees the college’s implementation of bond measures approved by Santa Monica-Malibu voters. He is a current member and past Chair of the Board of Directors of Downtown Santa Monica, inc. (DTSM), which works on planning, development and policies to promote the area’s economic stability, growth and community life.
He was selected by the Santa Monica City Council to serve on the Santa Monica Pier Board in 2011 and subsequently selected to the DTSM Board in 2012, 2016 and 2020.
Snell received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia and his Master of Science in taxation from Golden Gate University in Los Angeles.
Submitted by Barry Snell
