> ## 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. # Shriver reverses course, joins City Council race - URL: https://www.smdp.com/shriver-reverses-course-joins-city-council-race/ - Published: 2004-08-10T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T04:48:07.000Z - Author: John Wood - Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless, Homelessness *Kennedy descendant expected to shake up local election* A member of the Kennedy family on Monday formally entered the world of Santa Monica politics. After pulling nomination papers last week but announcing he wouldn’t run, Bobby Shriver reversed course and joined the campaign to win one of four open seats on the City Council this November. Shriver, 50, a resident of Santa Monica for nearly three decades, is the son of Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy, and is brother-in-law to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. He said he’s frustrated by Santa Monica City Hall’s poor customer service and the volatile relationship between many elected leaders and local merchants. What’s more, Shriver, who’s dedicated his efforts to fundrais-ing for the Special Olympics and Aids victims in Africa, said he looks forward to affecting change in his own backyard. “The more I listen to people talking to me, the more I realize a lot of the work I’ve done I don’t get to see the people I’m working for,” said Shriver, who recently spearheaded a fight against City Hall over how tall residents should be allowed to grow their hedges. “And when I see the lady at the coffee shop that says, ‘Oh I’m so grateful to you... I was terrified I was going to have to cut down my hedge and lose all my privacy — and be terrified, because I have a first-floor bedroom.’ I thought, ‘Wow, that was really nice.’” Shriver, who late last week had decided not to run until 2006, said he changed his mind because he realized he wanted to personally champion the issues and because he was able to delegate to others much of his work for philanthropic groups and the California Parks Commission, which he chairs. City Councilman Bob Holbrook, who is campaigning for Shriver, said Shriver was fed up. “I think he was tired of being told by the political pundits of the other side that he should not be a candidate for City Council,” Holbrook said on Monday. “I think he finally decided that when so many people keep telling him not to do something, there’s something wrong with that as well.” As to his campaign platform, Shriver, who on Monday was in Boston with family, said specifics will unfold in coming weeks. Key issues he raised were developing the old Marion Davies estate at 415 Pacific Coast Highway, improving traffic flow throughout the city, addressing concerns surrounding the growing local homeless population and increasing the amount of park space in Santa Monica. Shriver added he would fight for an off-leash dog area on the beach and would push for a new park at the old Pioneer Boulangerie site at Main and Bay streets. Central to his developing campaign will be a theme of unity, said Shriver, who added he was turned off by the increasingly sharp dialogue between Santa Monicans for Renters Rights, long Santa Monica’s ruling party, and the local chamber of commerce, which will be endorsing council candidates for the first time this year. An ongoing debate over homelessness has highlighted that divide, Shriver added. “The whole thing about SMRR wants the homeless to move into your house versus the chamber that wants to send them all to a concentration camp, that’s not really true,” he said. “Part of the real reason, honestly, that I wanted to run was that I found, after spending a lot of time with SMRR people, is that they’re pretty reasonable. And I’ve spent a little time with the chamber people, and they’re not unreasonable... It’s a place where, if we put all our minds together, we could work together — and there’s a lot of very serious work to do.” As to his specific stance on the hot-button issue of homelessness, Shriver said he would encourage neighboring cities to contribute more resources, and also seek more state and federal resources. “Nobody wants to not feed people,” he said. “I certainly would not be part of anything that in any way — even any little way — would (not feed people). I’m a good Catholic boy. How to handle people is the bigger question... It’s not down to Santa Monica to solve the worldwide homeless problem. I think it’s an issue that exists all over the world and it will not be solved in a year. But it can be helped, and people can be helped.” Partly because endorsements carry political ramifications, Shriver said he will run as an independent. He said he won’t pursue backing from the chamber or other political groups. Shriver’s late addition to a field of experienced and savvy council hopefuls has many community leaders excited. Holbrook and fellow City Councilman Herb Katz, who is running for re-election, both back Shriver’s bid. Holbrook even helped gather the 100 signatures needed to qualify Shriver for the ballot. Candidates had until Monday to turn in signatures, campaign statements, financial disclosure forms and other election documents. “He’s going to win,” Holbrook said. “Bobby Shriver is the best thing to come to Santa Monica since sliced bread. He is charismatic, he’s a wonderful person. The voters, when they get to know him, are going to fall in love with Bobby Shriver. If I were running, I’d be right beside him, that’s where I’d want to be.” Still, Holbrook acknowledged Shriver’s bid for a council seat likely wouldn’t weaken SMRR’s grasp on City Hall. SMRR has endorsed a majority of council members for 19 of the past 26 years. “SMRR is a potent political machine,” Holbrook said. “They know how to campaign, they know how to run campaigns and they’re well financed. Believe me, anyone who thinks that SMRR is going to be knocked on their butt better volunteer and get to work for us... They have all the vital ingredients. They work, they go out there, going door to door, telling people they’re going to lose rent control unless they support SMRR.” Denny Zane, a co-founder of SMRR and the current co-chair, welcomed Shriver’s addition to the race. “I don’t think it will have that big an effect,” Zane said. “I think the chamber’s side is much more focused on famous names and we’re much more focused on, kind of, organized contact with voters. It’s hard to tell. I like Bobby Shriver, he’s a good guy. He was at the SMRR convention and... he works on Aids in Africa, so he probably would like the city’s commitment to social services.” Asked if he thinks Shriver will win one of the four open seats, Zane replied, “I don’t know. I don’t have any prediction. SMRR will do fine. He’ll probably beat Herb Katz.” *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 10, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/081004.pdf?ref=smdp.com)