Stanley Iezman has been elected to the board of Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM), filling the vacant property owner seat left open after the resignation of longtime board member Julia Ladd.
The results were announced Thursday by DTSM CEO Andrew Thomas, who praised the caliber of candidates and the level of engagement from the downtown property ownership community.
“This year's election saw an impressive turnout among property owners,” Thomas said in a statement. “We were also fortunate to have a highly qualified and diverse pool of candidates who each brought unique perspectives and a shared dedication to enhancing the district.”
Iezman, a longtime Santa Monica resident and founder of American Realty Advisors, will serve as one of six at-large property owner representatives on the 13-member board. His election follows a competitive campaign that featured five candidates with backgrounds in real estate, retail management, hospitality and cultural programming.
In his application, Iezman emphasized his extensive civic and industry experience, listing roles with more than a dozen organizations in the real estate, philanthropic and academic sectors. He previously served on DTSM’s strategic planning committee and cited a strong familiarity with the district’s ongoing challenges and potential.
“I understand firsthand Santa Monica’s evolving dynamics and community needs,” Iezman wrote in his candidate statement. “As someone with a vested interest in downtown and a long-standing commitment to sustainable and resilient retail, office and multifamily growth, I want to help guide thoughtful policy and investment.”
The open seat became available in June following the departure of Ladd, who stepped down after the sale of Santa Monica Place by Macerich, the company she had represented on the board. The seat is one of six designated for downtown property owners, who elect their representatives through a weighted voting process that allocates one vote per parcel owned within the district.
According to Thomas, the nomination window closed on June 20. At the time, he expressed hope that a new member could be seated in time for the board’s July meeting.
Other candidates included Charles Western, Chief of Staff at XYZ LLC, which manages more than 100,000 square feet of Promenade real estate. In his statement, Western described himself as a “collaborative, solutions-oriented voice” with a background in public administration, digital asset management and veteran legal advocacy. He framed his interest in DTSM as a blend of civic service and strategic thinking, calling Santa Monica “more than where I work, it’s where my partner and I intend to spend a life together.”
Chris Gorbos, general manager and co-owner of M.i.’s Westside Comedy Theater, took a small-business approach to his application, emphasizing the importance of cultural spaces, local hiring and grassroots programming. “Small businesses, specifically those that offer much-needed ‘third spaces,’ are the backbone of any vibrant community,” he wrote.
Evan Pozarny, a commercial broker with Muselli Commercial Realtors, cited two decades of sales and leasing experience in downtown Santa Monica and a long résumé of Chamber of Commerce service. His statement focused on institutional continuity and business leadership development.
Jeremy Bachrach, senior director at Tishman Speyer, brought a development-oriented lens to the race. He highlighted a recent 100 percent affordable housing project completed by his firm in downtown Santa Monica and expressed interest in promoting “a resilient and economically thriving downtown that supports merchants, residents and visitors alike.”
In Thursday’s statement, Thomas thanked each of the candidates and praised the strength of the field. “Your involvement is essential to ensuring that the policies and programs guiding our downtown reflect a broad range of voices and priorities,” he wrote.
Iezman’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for DTSM, which is navigating major questions around budget priorities, public space activation and of course, the imminent departure of Thomas himself. The organization recently concluded a high-profile board retreat, approved a controversial budget reallocation for parking structure maintenance and continues to oversee rollout of the city’s new entertainment zone.