6) ROUGH ROAD TO VICTORY While voters nationally chose to go in a different direction politically, ousting several long-standing politicos while ushering in Democratic majority in both branches of Congress, voters locally chose to stick with the status quo, re-electing every single incumbent aside from school board member Shane McCloud.
As in years past, the 2006 municipal election proved to be highly contentious and turned dirty as various special interest groups attacked incumbents, with Kevin McKeown getting the worst of it. The election was of historic and unprecedented proportions with the operators of Casa del Mar and Shutters spending nearly $400,000 on commercials and a series of mailers calling into question McKeown’s voting record.
Despite the effort, McKeown came out on top, collecting more votes than any other candidate, followed by councilmem-ber Pam O’Connor.
The election reaffirmed the dominance of Santa Monicans for Renters Rights, which retained its majority on the council and the school board.
Councilman Bob Holbrook, often the target of SMRR, secured enough votes to come in third, followed by newcomers Terry O’Day, a planning commissioner and environmentalist, and Gleam Davis, a corporate attorney and education advocate.
O’Connor became the target of the Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City, which called into question the councilwoman’s acceptance of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from Macerich Co. around the same time the mall operator was presenting plans to city officials for a massive redevelopment of Santa Monica Place.
O’Connor said the contributions had no influence on her. She voted against the proposed development.
The election also presented votes with the choice of making adult marijuana use the lowest law enforcement priority. The voters overwhelmingly approved the initiative along with a $268 million school bond to improve facilities. A parcel tax to improve water quality in the bay narrowly passed the 66 percent threshold, the outcome uncertain until several weeks after the Nov. 7 election.
Voters also struck down an initiative to reform a law that prohibits elected officials from accepting contributions from those who have received a benefit from the council, that included Holbrook’s wife and others who have volunteered on commissions. Elected officials said the law is too cumbersome to follow and freezes civic participation.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 30, 2006. Read the original PDF.