Santa Monicans Help Seal Rosendahl Victory

By Olin Ericksen
Staff Writer

May 18 -- Although not a single ballot was cast in Santa Monica, helping Bill Rosendahl win a seat on the Los Angeles City Council Tuesday night fell partially on the unlikely shoulders of many within the seaside city, including union and Green Party activists.

Despite handily defeating his opponent, neighborhood activist Flora Gill Krisiloff, the race appeared close until election night and the former cable talk show host welcomed all the help he could get.

Thirty minutes after midnight, Rosendahl claimed victory in a posh Venice home which boasted a bowling alley in the bathroom and was every bit as eclectic and funky as the diverse group of supporters who gathered to celebrate.

“It’s safe to call it,” uttered the 6’4” Rosendahl, to the cheers of his supporters.

While the lion’s share of praise was held out for fellow Angelenos who propelled him to victory, Rosendahl heaped thanks upon several Santa Monicans -- including local Green Party leaders and labor groups -- who stumped for him in the final hours.

“Even though Santa Monica is not a part of this District, we’re all part of this District,” said Rosendahl, who lives in nearby Mar Vista. “We embrace Santa Monica, so let’s love each other and work together.”

In addition to the high-profile Green Party leaders Council member Kevin McKeown and former Mayor Michael Feinstein, who signed a letter of support, a huge boon to Rosendahl’s campaign came from more low-key quarters.

The garment and hotel workers union, known as Unite Here, and members of Santa Monicans Allied for Responsible Tourism (SMART), joined forces to deploy nearly 85 volunteers from Santa Monica help get-out-the-vote, walking precincts and calling voters, urging them to support Rosendahl.

“We worked really diligently to get him elected and it paid off,” said Kurt Peterson, Director of Organizing for Unite Here, which now boosts 440,000 members nationwide.

The effort was paid for in part by an independent expenditure of nearly $50,000 bankrolled by the County Federation of Labor, Peterson said.

“We’ve always had a good relationship with Bill,” said Peterson. “He’s always been very supportive of workers, and he believes in the things we do, such as making sure workers get paid enough to buy a house and take care of their family.”

Calling him a “great leader,” Rosendahl thanked McKeown and Feinstein for their work encouraging other “Greens” to get to the polls.

“The Greens sent out 500 letters within the district to help get out the vote,” said Rosendahl.

McKeown told the crowd that Santa Monica has found an ally in Los Angeles with Rosendahl.

“I’ve always said I felt surrounded by Los Angeles,” McKeown said. “Tonight, I know I’m embraced by Los Angeles,” he said and hugged Rosendahl.

How Santa Monica handles its development, traffic, the homeless, the local airport and Santa Monica College’s expansion became issues for both candidates in the race to represent District 11, which surrounds Santa Monica.

Rosendahl suggested in his campaign that he wants to work more closely with Santa Monica to improve relations between the two areas, including lobbying for a voice from Los Angeles on the local Airport Commission.

The many groups and individuals that supported his campaign were critical, said Rosendahl, as the fight for the seat to represent the Westside on the LA City Council turned negative in the final few weeks, driving down voter turnout.

It was unfortunate that a supposed “whisper campaign” was initiated to use his sexual orientation against him, Rosendahl said.

Rosendahl, who is openly gay and lives with his partner of ten years, said he will work to bridge any divide that was created during the campaign.

“Now is the time to leave all the negativity and animosity behind us,” he said. “We’re all one people and I will reach out and embrace everyone who supported Flora in their campaign.”

Hundreds of people from all political persuasions including Democrats, Republicans, Greens, Libertarians and Independents, meandered through the large Venice house, which from the outside was as unassuming as the dress attire of the guests.

Once inside, an array of rooms unfolded before revelers, including a glass encased showroom for fine autos in the front and a fully stocked, wood paneled bar near the back.

The bowling alley in the bathroom raised chuckles, a 10-foot-long ant farm astonished visitors and an actual bed with flowers in the garden left some wondering what to think of the visual puns that dotted the house.

As diverse as the rooms in the house where he held his victory party, Rosendahl said, was the “neighborhood congress” he would like other districts to emulate.

To the loud cheers and smiles of his campaign workers, including several from Santa Monica, Rosendahl held out hope that District 11 will be a model for others in the fractured scene that is the Los Angeles political arena.

“Together,” Rosendahl said, standing in a circle of supporters, “I hope this leadership will catch on in other districts around Los Angeles.”