By Daily Press staff
Citing election irregularities that could prevent a fair election of the Venice Neighborhood Council this weekend, a group of 10 candidates are running as a progressive grassroots slate.
The election, which will be held on June 28, will fill 10 of 21 positions on the board.
Chris Wood, vice president of the board, alleges the election procedures were decided in a closed process in violation of the state’s open meeting laws. Wood, a member of the elections committee and co-chair of the communications committee, filed a complaint on June 20 with the Los Angeles Department of Neighborhood Empowerment.
She wrote in the letter that although she is a member of the election committee, she was excluded from how the election procedures would be handled. Wood is midway through a two-year term and is not a candidate in the election.
She also wrote that the membership list was not accessible to all candidates to use for campaigning in the upcoming election, but only to selected candidates.
The election will be the second one held by Grass Roots Venice. During the first election, more than 600 Venice residents cast ballots and this year, more than 1,000 are expected to participate.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 24, 2003. Read the original PDF.