City Council candidate Tom Viscount announced Wednesday that he has dropped out of the race for one of the four open seats.
Viscount, who interviewed with the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce’s political action committee on Tuesday seeking its endorsement, said he couldn’t personally commit to campaigning. He is about to start a new company and was afraid the campaign would negatively affect his job as the director of resource development and communications at the Santa Monica Red Cross.
“I had to be honest with myself, and I didn’t want to let anyone down,” Viscount said, adding he wanted to make the announcement before the chamber made its endorsements,whichareexpectednextweek. “I thought it would be irresponsible.”
Many political observers had speculated that Viscount would have gotten the chamber’s endorsement, which would have meant tens of thousands of dollars in fundraising for his candidacy, as well as campaigning for him.
“I can’t commit to being on a slate,” he said, adding the priority for him right now is his new business, which involves manufacturing, marketing and selling Swicherz, decorative ornaments for athletic gear such as snow-boards and skis. “It got overwhelming for me.”
Viscount said he’ll still actively campaign for candidates he supports, but he hasn’t decided on who they are yet. He might enter the fray in two years when three City Council seats will be open.
“If I’m going to do it, I want to do it right,” he said.
At last count, 11 people were seriously campaigning for the open City Council seats.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 9, 2004. Read the original PDF.