> ## 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.

# Women’s group speaks out against ballot designation
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/womens-group-speaks-out-against-ballot-designation-editor/
- Published: 2006-04-26T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T17:39:50.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Santa Monica Commission on the Status of Women*

After reading the April 17 article by Harrison Sheppard, Sacramento Bureau, LA Daily News, we the undersigned former members of the Santa Monica Commission on the Status of Women (SMCOSW) are upset by the dishonesty involved in the ballot designation used by Kelly Hayes-Raitt as “City Women’s Commissioner.”

We find this ballot designation to be intentionally misleading. The Santa Monica Commission is an unpaid voluntary position appointed by the City Council. The commission meets once a month for about three hours a meeting.

We understand that the California Secretary of State rules require the use of one’s primary occupation or of an elected office, this voluntary post does not meet either criteria. Furthermore, Hayes-Raitt’s resignation from the SMCOSW was officially accepted at a public meeting of the Santa Monica City Council on Feb. 14, 2006\. Her resignation was received in writing early enough to appear on that agenda. This means that she resigned on or before filing her candidacy papers for the 41st Assembly District.

Since Hayes-Raitt is a professional political consultant, we believe that it is duplicitous for Hayes-Raitt to use the designation “City Women’s Commissioner,” and we believe that it is a mistake for the Secretary of State to allow it.

Thank you for your attention to this important political matter.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 26, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/042606.pdf?ref=smdp.com)