Santa Monica has its first official candidate for City Council. Dan Hall was the first person to qualify for the November election receiving the official stamp of approval on August 6 according to the City Clerk’s office.
Hall was among the first to pull papers for office and returned them to the Clerk on August 2. His slatemates, Ellis Raskin, Barry Snell and Natalya Zernitskaya have also returned their applications, but have yet to qualify.
While Hall is the first Council candidate to make the ballot, candidates for College Board were the first to qualify for any race. Margaret Quinones-Perez qualified on July 29 followed by Anastasia Foster on July 31. Rob Greenstein Rader subsequently qualified on Tuesday.
In the School Board election, Maria Leon-Vazquez and Jennifer Smith have both qualified to run. Candidates Jon Kean and Christine Falaguerra have both returned their applications and are awaiting approval.
Of the 20 individuals who pulled paperwork for the City Council race, two have withdrawn before filing to run. Mayor Phil Brock is the only other candidate to submit his paperwork so far.
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.
matt@smdp.com
