DOWNTOWN — Following in the footsteps of Santa Monica’s non-public safety employees, associations for local cops and firefighters on Thursday endorsed all five sitting City Council members in November’s election.
In the race for three four-year terms, the public safety associations backed Kevin McKeown, Bob Holbrook and Pam O’Connor. In the race for two two-year terms they endorsed Gleam Davis and Terry O’Day.
“They have been making sure that public safety has all the tools and the personnel that they need to provide a high level of quality service to the community,” Police Officers Association President Sgt. Jay Trisler said.
The vote of confidence in the status quo comes after council members in June rejected a cost saving plan proposed by City Manager Rod Gould and Police Chief Tim Jackman that would have eliminated two police lieutenant positions. The council instead voted to freeze the positions, making it easier to restore funding for the posts if revenue increases. Mayor Bobby Shriver, who is not up for re-election in November, cast the only vote against keeping the positions on the books.
Trisler said all of the endorsement decisions, made by a joint committee of board members from the police and fire associations, were reached unanimously.
The police and fire associations also are supporting Measure Y, the proposed half percent sales tax hike, and Measure YY, an advisory measure that urges leaders to pledge half of the estimated $12 million that would be raised annually for education programs.
“Passage of these measures will ensure that public safety will maintain its high level of quality service that residents of Santa Monica deserve. In addition, our schools will maintain their high quality of service to the community and students,” a statement from the public safety associations read.
