> ## 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. # Let the games begin: Endorsements for City Council on the horizon - URL: https://www.smdp.com/let-the-games-begin-endorsements-for-city-council-on-the-horizon/ - Published: 2004-09-13T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T05:02:38.000Z - Author: Carolyn Sackariason - Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homelessness CHAMBER OF COMMERCE — Officials here last week reached deep into the political vortex, setting the precedent for how future election campaigns will be handled. How the chamber of commerce’s involvement in elections will be accepted by the public remains to be seen, but last week’s endorsement interviews with City Council candidates has at least made clear what the business community’s motives are for officially getting political. Earlier this year, the chamber established a political action committee to endorse candidates, which has never been done before. The chamber will raise hundreds of thousands of dollars and tirelessly campaign for their candidates. How it proceeds from here will be critical for the future of Santa Monica, political observers say. Through local voters, the chamber hopes to overthrow a city government that has been dominated by a more liberal-thinking group called the Santa Monicans For Renters’ Rights (SMRR) for the majority of the past 26 years. It’s widely known that the chamber and City Hall have for years had an adversarial relationship. The business community laments that policies set by the current administration create an unfriendly environment for residents and visitors. The chamber is expected to make endorsements on Tuesday for candidates running for four open City Council seats this November. Political action committee members drilled candidates on questions regarding homelessness, affordable housing, future development, the living wage issue, parking policies and City Hall bureaucracy. The dynamics of the process revealed that the chamber and the established political party’s differences are vast. Challengers to the status quo — who are the most likely to be endorsed — met with agreeable committee members. On the other hand, three of the incumbents found themselves defending their records, answering loaded questions and deflecting accusations. Two candidates who are already endorsed by SMRR and seeking a City Council seat for the first time weren’t without their share of challenging questions. The most heavily scrutinized was City Councilman Mike Feinstein, who after being challenged for the first 10 minutes of his interview, addressed committee members on their line of questioning. “We have a short time here, and I don’t think it’s productive to bring up the past,” he said, pointing out that he’s championed many causes for small businesses. “You’ve got a half hour with me, and I have done a lot of productive things (as a councilman).” Kathy Dodson, president and CEO of the chamber, said she thought the interviews went well. “That was a really important part of the process,” she said. “I think we may definitely do this again. I was really impressed with all of the candidates.” Even candidates who know they aren’t likely to get the chamber’s endorsement, or don’t necessarily need it, respect the process, and that’s why they put themselves under scrutiny. The process so far indicates that local politicos are navigating through new territory and are just beginning to ENDORSEMENTS, from page 6 understand their new roles. Several candidates cautioned committee members to be aware of their actions in the coming months. “This is a turning point for the chamber of commerce,” said first-time candidate David Cole. “I fear for you.” The “us versus them” approach to important issues facing Santa Monica isn’t going to solve the problems, he added, pointing to a time when the chamber was more consensus based. “I think it’s a dangerous time for the chamber,” Cole said. City Councilman Ken Genser, who is seeking reelection and is backed by SMRR, said the chamber’s political involvement shouldn’t be motivated to challenge SMRR, but to work collectively with the entire community. He added that SMRR and the chamber need to re-evaluate their relationship as the process moves forward. “The question is whether SMRR versus the chamber can pass the smell test,” he said. The issues covered in the interviews are the most important to chamber members, and it’s hoped that their chosen candidates will best represent them. For the past several months, the political action committee has met with different segments of the business community — restaurateurs, retailers, the hotel industry and small business owners — to find out the most pressing concerns for them. Those concerns were addressed in a questionnaire given to candidates prior to being interviewed. Often times, the issues become emotionally charged because the stakes and frustration levels are high. Chamber officials point out that they are representing residents, business owners and visitors, who for three consecutive years have ranked homelessness, parking and traffic as their top concerns. Yet, they feel not much is being done to address them. Candidate Bill Bauer, who is a vocal opponent of SMRR, summed up the two sides’ relationship and the state of the city. “Everything seems to be going wrong,” he said. “When have they been considerate of our view? I’m sick of them.” *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 13, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/091304.pdf?ref=smdp.com)