By Jorge Casuso

August 7, 2024 -- The first City Council candidate qualified for the ballot this week, and five others have returned nominating petitions to the City Clerk ahead of next Wednesday's deadline.

Pier Corporation Board Chair Dan Hall, who was among the first candidates to pull papers on July 15, qualified for the ballot on Tuesday after submitting nominating petitions signed by at least 100 Santa Monica voters.

His three fellow running mates backed by Santa Monica's political establishment -- College Trustee Barry Snell, Planning Commissioner Ellis Raskin and Natalya Zernitskaya -- returned their nominating petitions this week in the race for four open Council seats.

Mayor Phil Brock, who heads the opposing Change slate composed so far of Councilmembers Oscar de la Torre and Christine Parra, also returned nominating petitions this week, as did Dr. Vivian Roknian, who also is running on a pro-law enforcement platform.

That leaves 11 candidates who have yet to return their papers and two candidates who are no longer in the running after one was disqualified and the other withdrew.

They include Rent Board Chair Erika Lesley, who pulled nominating papers after failing to win the backing of Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights (SMRR) and the Dem Club, and could threaten to siphon votes from political establishment candidates.

Other Council candidates who have pulled papers include Manju Raman, a member of the City's Public Safety Reform Oversight Commission, and Janet McLaughlin, a journalist who started a pro law enforcement Facebook page. Both are running on a law-and-order platform.

John Putnam, who along with Roknian, has been poised to receive the backing of Santa Monicans United (SMU), a newly formed group focused on public safety, also pulled papers.

Other candidates who have not returned their signed petitions include Whitney Bain, a pro law-enforcement candidate who ran two years ago; Nathaniel Jones, who ran in 2020, and Jonathan Mann, who is making a record 17th run for Council.

Also among the 12 candidates who have yet to submit their petitions are Marcus Owens, who sought the endorsement of the local Democratic Club; Wade Kelley, and Stephen Garr.

In the race for two open Rent Control Board seats, only two candidates, Kay Ambriz, who was appointed to the Board in June, and Phillis Dudick have pulled papers. Neither has returned her nominating petitions.

Three candidates have qualified in the race for three open seats on the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees. They include incumbents Margaret Quinones-Perez and Rob Greenstein Rader, and Rent Board Commissioner Anastasia Foster.

Challenger Zoe Muntaner also has pulled papers. Muntaner finished last among 14 candidates in 2014 City Council race and 14th among 21 candidates in the 2020 race.

In the race for three open School Board seats, incumbents Maria Leon-Vazquez and Jennifer Smith have qualified for the ballot, as has challenger Christine Falaguerra. Incumbent Jon Kean has not returned his nominating petitions.

Prospective candidates have until 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday August 14 to file their nominating petitions. Candidates who have submitted their papers or qualified for the ballot have until this Friday to withdraw.

To qualify for the ballot, candidates must have at least 100 valid signatures from registered Santa Monica voters. A $25 filing fee must be paid at the time petitions and forms are filed.

Those who wish to have a Candidate Statement included in the Sample Ballot must pay a $1,100 fee at the time of filing.

The LA County Registrar will begin mailing Vote by Mail ballots to voters on October 7. The last day to register to vote is October 21. Election Day is November 5.