Incumbents Christine Parra, Oscar de la Torre and Phil Brock have announced their intention to run for office. The three had been noncommittal about their plans before pulling papers on Monday.
“I am honored to announce my candidacy for City Council once again. Serving our community over the past term has been an incredible privilege, and I am excited to continue the progress we've made together,” said Parra.
“My decision to run for re-election stems from a deep-rooted belief in civic duty and a passion for our city's future. I have seen firsthand the positive impact of effective leadership and community engagement. Together, we can build upon our successes and navigate future opportunities and obstacles with resilience and foresight. While I still share significant concern over my mother’s health and cancer battle, I know that she supports my decision.”
The other sitting councilmember up for reelection, Gleam Davis, has said she will not run again this year.
Candidates are able to pull papers for City Council, Rent Control Board, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) Board of Education and Santa Monica College Board. 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.
In addition to the three incumbents, Whitney Bain, Lawrence Doherty Jr., Stephen Garr, Dan Hall, Nathaniel Jones, Wade Kelley, Ericka Lesley, Jon Mann, Janet McLaughlin, Marcus Owens, John Putnam, Manju Raman, Ellis Raskin, Vivian Roknian, Barry Snell and Natalya Zernitskaya have pulled papers.
Snell, Hall, Zernitskaya and Raskin are running as a slate with the endorsement of the city’s progressive political establishment.
Kay Ambriz and Phillis Dudick remain the only two individuals to take paperwork for the two seats available on the Rent Control Board. Former Rent Control Board Chair Anastasia Foster is joined by Margaret Quinones-Perez, Rob Rader and Zoe Muntaner pulling papers for College Board.
For the SMMUSD Board of Education race, Christine Falaguerra pulled papers alongside incumbents Jennifer Smith, Jon Kean and Maria Leon-Vazquez.
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
