> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Deadline for Santa Monica political candidates passes
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/deadline-for-santa-monica-political-candidates-passes/
- Published: 2002-08-10T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T00:36:45.000Z
- Author: Andrew Fixmer
- Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Council, college and school board races about to begin*

Nine people have officially filed petitions to run for three seats on the Santa Monica City Council in this November’s election.

Four candidates waited until the last minute on Friday’s filing deadline to deliver their petitions to be considered for a council seat. The other five had sent in their papers earlier in the week, and one candidate — Matteo Dinolfo — already has been qualified by the city clerk to be a candidate.

The others — Pro Se, Abby Arnold, Jerry Rubin, Josefina Santiago Aranda, Chuck Allord, Councilwoman Pam O’Connor, Councilman Kevin McKeown and Councilman Robert Holbrook — will be certified by the city clerk’s office by Wednesday.

To be certified by the city clerk’s office and to reserve a spot on November’s ballot, potential candidates have to gather 100 signatures from residents who are registered to vote in Santa Monica.

Last month, more than 19 residents — many of whom were political unknowns — had drawn papers from the city clerk’s office for a possible run. Council members each serve a four-year term.

“Both times I ran there were a lot of candidates,” said Judy Abdo, a former mayor and councilwoman. Abdo participated in a June candidates’ forum sponsored by the city’s League of Women Voters to educate potential candidates about the realities of political life.

> “I really don’t know what the attraction for running for office really is but they do it.” — — JUDY ABDO Former councilwoman

> “But I doubt it is about any one particular issue. They all have their own particular reasons for running.” — Monica’s politics. she said

> “I really don’t know what the attraction for running for office really is but they do it,”

“Some go through the whole (election) process and have a great time,” she said. “They don’t spend any money, but they show up at forums and get interviewed. It’s fun to them.”

But Abdo warned against pigeon-holing why candidates decide to run or become involved in Santa Six candidates have filed for the five four-year term seats that are up for grabs on the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School Board this year.

School Board President Julia Brownley and newcomer Emily Bloomfield already have their petitions certified by the city clerk’s office. Ann Cochran, Ana M. Jara, school board member Brenda Gottfried, and Shane McLoud have filed petitions which the clerk’s office will certify by Wednesday.

Oscar de la Torre — a local Pico youth activist endorsed by local political powerhouse Santa Monicans for Renters Rights — did not file his papers.

Four candidates have filed to run for the three two-year term seats up for election on the city’s Rent Control Board.

While only Thomas D. Carter has been certified by the clerk’s office, Rent Control Board Chair Alan Toy, board member Betty S. Mueller and newcomer Jennifer Kennedy have filed petitions.

Six candidates have declared themselves for the four, four-year term seats on the Santa Monica College Board of Education.

Incumbent Nancy Cattell-Luckenback and newcomer Herb Rooney have been certified, while Bill Winslow, incumbent Dorothy Ehrhart-Morrison, Nancy Greenstein and incumbent Carole Currey have filed their petitions.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 10, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/081002.pdf?ref=smdp.com)