October 8, 2010 -- The Lookout Staff submitted questionnaires to the 23 candidates running for seats on the City Council and Board of Education. The candidates were given the same timeframe to answer the questions and were limited to 150 words per answer.

During the next several days, the Lookout News will publish the candidates’ answers verbatim. The profiles for the four-year City Council race will be published first, followed by the two-year City Council race and lastly the Board of Education race. They will appear in alphabetical order based on the candidates’ first names.

Name: Terence Later
Running for: 4-year City Council seat?
Status: Challenger

How long have you lived in Santa Monica? In what neighborhood do you live?
I have lived in Santa Monica all my life in every area of the city, currently residing in Mid-Town.

Why are you running for office and why should residents vote for you?
Most importantly we have a city budget of over half a billion dollars and our school children are obliged to sell candy and lemonade on street corners to pay for their basic needs such as health services, music and arts programs, and physical education. As a life long resident of this city I come from a unique perspective. Some of our current city council members without the benefit of term limits have been in office for nearly 20 years, our city budget in that time has turned upside down. We need new blood in office and I promise fiscal responsibility.

Why do you enjoy living in Santa Monica?
It’s a city of incredibly unique character and my family has been here for three generations.

How would you rate the current City Council? What particular decisions stand out for you that made you form that opinion?
For the length of time this city council has been in office shouldn’t our city reflect the rewards of their efforts instead of being in a place once again to raise taxes on our citizens. Bobby Shriver has been the best thing to happen to our city council in recent years. His abilities and insight to our city’s budget needs and the work he has done on the homeless problem stands unparalleled to any recent council person.

What is the most frequent complaint you hear on the campaign trail? What do you plan to do about this issue?
The schools are hurting, the city budget is in disrepair, all businesses find it very difficult to get started in our city, especially the small businesses.

Should Santa Monica residents be allowed to vote on major development agreements? Why or why not?
Yes because city residents are the voice of Santa Monica. Any and all major decisions should have the benefit of the peoples vote.

Where do you stand on Measure Y, the half-cent sales tax proposal, and Measure YY, the companion measure that would recommend 50 percent of the tax revenue go to education?
I stand with Mayor Bobby Shriver in that we do not need more taxes levied on the people of Santa Monica. A more responsible budget from the city council is what’s needed. The citizens of Santa Monica are tired of being held hostage by taxes, tickets, fees, and liens. And now they use our school children as human shields for their fiscal mismanagement.

Solve the traffic problem in Santa Monica in under 150 words.
More responsible limited development, building parking structures next to the freeway off ramps, shuttle, and bike and ride to businesses and shopping.

If you were emperor with absolute authority for a day and could do one thing for Santa Monica, what would it be?
With the size of our city growing we need districts and our councilpersons representing each of those districts. Term limits and a Mayor elected by the people.