> ## 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. # Passing muster with CEPS - URL: https://www.smdp.com/passing-muster-with-ceps/ - Published: 2006-10-04T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T21:30:53.000Z - Author: Kevin Herrera - Tags: Education, Malibu, #archive-import *CEPS moves to educate voters* CITYWIDE — Following a month of interviews and evaluations, an influential community group that pressured City Hall into contributing more than $6 million a year to local schools announced its endorsements on Tuesday in three local races deemed critical to education interests in Santa Monica. Community for Excellent Public Schools (CEPS), a broad-based grassroots organization dedicated to the preservation and betterment of public schools, will raise money and campaign on behalf of education advocate and CEPS member Gleam Davis, who is running for one of three available seats on the City Council. In the race to fill four seats on the Santa Monica-Malibu School Board, CEPS is backing school board member Emily Bloomfield and challengers Kelly Pye and Barry Snell. For the Santa Monica College board of trustees, where there is four seats on the line, CEPS will promote incumbent Nancy Greenstein; Louise Jaffe, a member of SMC’s general advisory board; Tom Donner, SMC’s former finance director; and David Finkel, an adjunct professor of political science at SMC and a former City Council member. CEPS also endorsed Measure BB, the school district’s $246 million bond measure to improve school facilities. The election is Tuesday, Nov. 7\. Candidate evaluations followed a three-step process. First, they were asked to answer a comprehensive list of questions developed to touch upon a broad spectrum of educational concerns specific to the SMMUSD. The full list of questions, as well as each candidate’s complete answers, are available to the public at www.excellentpublic-schools.org. Candidates were then invited to meet with CEPS steering committee members on Sept. 27-28 for individual interviews. CEPS members then reviewed all answers, as well as incumbents’ records, and steering committee members voted on endorsements and ratings. CEPS voted in June to endorse Davis, but opted against endorsing two other candidates, instead choosing to rank the council hopefuls based upon their support for public education, said Shari Davis, CEPS chair. “Gleam Davis understands that value of having excellent public schools, and the benefits our whole community reaps when high-quality K-12 schools, early childhood education and community college opportunities are a top priority,” Davis said. “Numerous policy decisions come before the Santa Monica City Council related to educating and enriching the lives of the children in our community.” Incumbents Bob Holbrook and Kevin McKeown, along with newcomer Terry O’Day, a member of the Planning Commission, were rated as “reliable” supporters of education, with all three demonstrating and understanding of the needs of public schools, Davis said.All three told CEPS that, if elected, they will continue to provide financial support to schools in the future. Incumbent Pam O’Connor was rated as “unreliable.” The rating was based on O’Connor’s “public disdain”for the movement led by CEPS in 2004 that forced City Hall to contractually fund local schools, Davis said. CEPS sponsored an amendment to the city charter that would have required City Hall to contribute funds to local schools, but later abandoned that effort in exchange for a compromise with city officials. The compromise became official in 2005, with City Hall agreeing to contribute at least $6 million a year for five years. O’Connor’s alleged lack of commitment to support future funding also played a factor in CEPS’ rating, Davis said. O’Connor said she supports City Hall’s funding of public education, casting a vote in favor of the plan. “I have a track record of supporting public education, but I was not going to promise (CEPS) that I would do what they say,” O’Connor said.“I am the only incumbent running who voted for (the funding agreement).” Holbrook was not present when the council approved of the funding measure. McKeown, who works for the school district providing technical support, excused himself because of a conflict of interest. Bloomfield, the mother of three SMMUSD students, secured the CEPS endorsement because of her strong connection to the district and her commitment to closing the achievement gap, Davis said. “Pye has made a name for herself as an outspoken voice for low-income students in the district in her years of service to PTA, site governance and various education groups,”a statement from CEPS read. “She stresses partnership and collaboration as her mission on the Board. “Snell is also a high-profile volunteer who has worked with PTA and school site groups to bring minority parents, especially African- American fathers, into the loop at Santa Monica High School and the middle schools.” The lone incumbent running for the college board, Greenstein is seen by CEPS as a dedicated community member whose leadership on the board has helped the college progress after recent cutbacks. Jaffe’s commitment to lifelong learning was a key factor for CEPS, as well as her work to provide new resources for students, while Donnor’s 30-year record of “trust and service” helped SMC become one of the top 10 community colleges in the country. As for Finkel, his “lifetime of service” helped him rise to the top, as CEPS looks forward to utilizing his wealth of knowledge, having served on the City Council and as the presiding judge of the Santa Monica Municipal Court. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/100406-04_01.jpg) Runway model Kristina Proulx struts down the makeshift red carpet on the Third Street Promenade last week as part of an Office Max promotion for Tul, a writing pen. (Photo: Strut Fabian Lewkowicz/Daily Press) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 4, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/100406.pdf?ref=smdp.com)