Voters looking to size up the crowded field running for Santa Monica City Council this fall will get their chance in the coming weeks to see candidates in person, as local civic groups roll out their fall forum schedules ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
The North of Montana Association will host a "Meet the City Council Candidates" forum as part of its Annual Meeting & Info Fair on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 2 p.m. at the Franklin School Auditorium, 2400 Montana Ave. The group says all 12 qualified City Council candidates are expected to take part. The event is in-person only but may be available online after the fact. Questions for candidates can be sent in advance to NOMABoard@gmail.com.
The League of Women Voters of Santa Monica is working with several partners to host a series of forums. The first will be held with the Santa Monica-Malibu PTA Council for Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education candidates on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 6:30 p.m. at the SMMUSD District Office, 1717 4th St. That forum will be hybrid: voters can attend in person at the district's board room or watch online, with the League directing viewers to register for a Zoom webinar link and offering a YouTube livestream for those who cannot join the video call. The forum will cover the four-seat school board race between incumbents Laurie Lieberman, Alicia Mignano and Stacy Rouse and challengers Harry Leshner and Robbie Staenberg. Questions can be directed to Barbara Inatsugu at candidateforums@lwvsantamonica.org.
The League will then partner with the Committee for Racial Justice for a City Council forum at the Church in Ocean Park, 235 Hill St, on Oct. 4 from 6:30 - 9 p.m. A second Council forum will be televised in partnership with the City of Santa Monica on CityTV and online on Oct. 9. Rent Control Board will also be part of the televised forum but there will be no studio audience. A third forum featuring both Council and Rent Control Board will be held in partnership with Community Corporation of Santa Monica at 1834 14th Street on Oct. 14 from 6:30 - 9 p.m.
The League has directed voters to its "Elections – Candidate Forums" page at my.lwv.org/california/santa-monica for more information.
The forums come as Santa Monica voters prepare to decide a packed Nov. 3 ballot that includes three four-year City Council seats, three Rent Control Board seats, four SMMUSD board seats, four Santa Monica College trustee seats and five city ballot measures, according to city candidate filing records.
Unlike past election cycles, this year's council race has yet to produce a clear group of front-runners or a unified slate, with endorsements from labor groups, tenant advocates and civic organizations splitting in different directions.