By Jorge Casuso

July 18, 2012 -- Since election season kicked off Monday morning, thirteen candidates have pulled papers to run for four open seats on the Santa Monica City Council. Incumbent council member Bobby Shriver was not among them.

Two potential candidates each for Rent Control Board, School Board and College Board also have pulled papers.

Half of the potential City Council candidates have made previous council bids, while the others are entering the local political arena for the first time.

Mayor Richard Bloom, who is in a November runoff for the 51st Assembly District, has announced he will not seek reelection, while Shriver has said privately that he doesn't plan to run, possibly leaving two open seats on the council for the first time in more than two decades.

Former Council member Tony Vazquez, who told The Lookout he expects to run for the seat he lost in 1994, did not pull papers Monday.

Potential candidates have from July 16 to August 10 to pull papers and collect 100 signatures from registered voters living in Santa Monica.

In the Council race, Planning Commissioner Ted Winterer, former Lookout columnist Frank Gruber, education activist Shari Davis, community activist Jerry Rubin, and incumbents Terry O'Day and Gleam Davis pulled papers, as expected.

Linda Armstrong also pulled papers, marking her fifth council bid, while Robert Seldon, an attorney who co-founded Northeast neighbors, will be running for the first time.

Newcomers Michael Shaver, John Cyrus Smith, Steve Duron, Roberto Gomez, Steven Senft and Armen Melkonians also pulled papers during the first two days. 

Two Rent Board incumbents and one challenger pulled papers to run for two open seats. The incumbents are Ilse Rosenstein and Robert Kronovet, who in 2008 became the first candidate to win a seat without the backing of Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights (SMRR).

Challenger Christopher Walton, a criminal defense trial lawyer, also has pulled papers.

Incumbent Jose Escarce and challenger Chase Greenich pulled papers for three open seats on the School Board, while two of the College Board incumbents -- Susan Aminoff and Robert Rader -- pulled papers for three open seats on the College Board.