some of these businesses can’t open here. I’ve had people come in and tell me about personal bankruptcy trying to open a business in Santa Monica... That is very different.”
What about for you personally? How has your modus operandi changed?
“The one thing that has changed, it’s a very positive change, is Santa Monica is such a strong community that you need to, want to, have to work with all the various community organizations and leadership here if you want to get anything accomplished. In Texas, we were also focused on the same goal, but it wasn’t the same priority. Here, outreach is of supreme importance.
“And I think another thing... is my chamber in Texas wasn’t focused on candidate endorsement and that’s something that we have developed here because these major issues — again it’s homelessness, parking and traffic, and efficient, productive government — they’re just not being addressed the way we want them to be addressed...
“Unfortunately, it just doesn’t look like we can work with the council to get them to address these problems the way we want them to be addressed.”
Which members of the chamber can we expect to see throw their hat into the November election?
“Oh gosh, it’s way too early to tell. They don’t even submit until July or August. We want to encourage candidates to run. There are four seats open and one of the things we’ve discussed is having a candidate academy... so anyone thinking about running can learn more about what’s involved.”
What about former chamber chairs? Who do you think might run?
“To be honest with you, I can’t say for sure right now. There seem to be a lot of people kicking it around and we certainly hope to see some good candidates come forward.”
If you weren’t the president and CEO of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, what would you be doing?
“I’d probably be president and CEO of an environmental organization.”
What about a dream job? “This is my dream job.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 15, 2004. Read the original PDF.