They called me “Mr. Cranky” when I ran for City Council two years ago. I pale compared to the rancor and vicious attacks on candidates running for office this year.
Leading the charge for nastiness is Santa Monicans for Sensible Priorities and business interests targeting incumbent, Kevin McKeown. I commented on this last week (Oct. 30, Page 4). Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights Co-Chair Denny Zane met with Tim Dubois, the President of Edward Thomas Management Company, the firm that owns Shutters and Casa del Mar hotels (Daily Press, Oct. 14, page 1). Dubois is the big money behind SMSP’s Political Action Committee that’s spending fortunes on cable TV ads and mailers blaming SMRR’s Kevin McKeown, for all the city’s problems.
It seems Dubois is also concerned about dirty beaches near his luxury hotels. ETMC contributed $45,000 to Proposition V advocates (according to campaign disclosure statements) and met with Zane to discuss “working hand in hand” for “V,” the Clean Beach parcel tax proposition. I hope Zane, who makes his living as a political consultant, isn’t getting paid by Dubois, who’s determined to wrest control of City Hall from SMRR and Zane’s clutches.
Santa Monica for Renter’s Rights School Board candidate Oscar de la Torre also raised some eyebrows when his name appeared endorsing Chamber of Commerce-and Santa Monicans for Sensible Priorities Political Action Committee-backed Council candidate Terry O’Day. de la Torre told me last week he endorsed O’Day because he’s a homeboy — living in the Pico neighborhood — and that Pico has never had a councilmen on the dais.
The SMC Faculty Association is a major contributor to Friends of Santa Monica College, the entity behind the anti-Tom Donner for College Trustee mailers that blame Donnor, former SMC interim President and Business Manager, for budget and program cuts during former SMC President Piedad Robertson’s tenure four years ago (SMDP, Oct. 23, Page 4).
The Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable Community’s Political Action Committee is behind a hit piece on Pam O’Connor. Their mailer accuses O’Connor of selling out to special interests by accepting $3,100 in contributions from Individuals working for or associated with Macerich Company, the owners of Santa Monica Place.
In January of 2005, Macerich announced plans to rebuild the shopping center, including 21-floor condo towers. Facing community resistance, Macerich agreed to return to City Council with a scaled-down proposal. Three months later, O’Connor accepted 13 checks from Macerich employees and associates — enough to retire her 2002 campaign debt — just months before Macerich was to come back for Council approval of its revised plans. O’Connor denies the contributions would influence her vote and notes that she did nothing illegal.
Then there’s the sneak attacks like the anonymous Halloween Monster piece (SMDP, Oct. 31, page 1) referring to SMRR’s Council slate of Kevin McKeown, Gleam Davis and Pam O’Connor as being monsters for not supporting schools, and supporting the homeless instead of the homebound.
The flier says: “It’s time to change City Hall.” Unfortunately, “reform” candidates generally don’t win elections.
Two years ago, anonymous fliers were placed under car windshields in Ocean Park accusing then-incumbent Herb Katz of wanting to eliminate permit parking. He was re-elected and permit parking still stands.
Don’t be surprised tomorrow morning when you see outrageously untruthful doorhangers proclaiming that Council incumbent Bob Holbrook and challenger Terry O’Day “take bribes from developers.” Watch out for fliers from some mythical group like Santa Monicans for Resident’ Rights (SMRR, get it?) saying McKeown, Davis and O’Connor “are against rent control.”
It’s never too late for dirty tricks. Go on the city web site and look at the campaign contributors under “City Clerk — Campaign Disclosures.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 6, 2006. Read the original PDF.