Local 12
A newspaper with issues
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2008
FREE PARKING AVAILABLE 1726 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica Phone: (310) 829-3625 Fax: (310) 829-0254
Specializing in both Santa Monica Real Estate and Los Angeles luxury real estate
Simon Salloom
SantaMonicaSimon.com (310) 749-8686 ssalloom@gmail.com
1/2 OFF 1ST HAIRCUT COMPLIMENTARY HAIRCUT WITH COLOR OR HI-LITE COMPLIMENTARY HAIRCUT WITH 100% HUMAN HAIR EXTENSIONS WE NOW CARRY ’AVEDA’ AND ’BUMBLE AND BUMBLE’ 1/2 OFF HAIRCUT WITH PERMANENT HAIR STRAIGHTENING NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. COUPON VALID FOR ONE SERVICE. PLEASE BRING COUPON TO REDEEM. ONLY ONE COUPON PER CUSTOMER.
ALL SALON SERVICES, INCLUDING:
Creative Hair Cutting & Styling, Highlighting & Color Techniques, Human Hair Extensions. Walk-ins welcome.
New Location Now Open Come see us at 3015 Lincoln Blvd. Two blocks north of Whole Foods (310) 399-7100
Incumbents out-raise upstart challengers FROM FUNDING PAGE 1 with organizations such as the Trammell Crow Company, which is proposing to demolish an apartment building on Ocean Avenue in favor of condominiums, and the Huntley Hotel. Money is a vital part of running a successful campaign, according to Mayor Herb Katz, who has brought in more than $56,000 this year. “With money, you can get the word out,” Katz, whose lawn signs started appearing throughout the city recently, said. “It’s imperative you raise money to get your literature out and get your name out.” The city election code limits contributions to any individual running for the City Council and Rent Control Board to $250 per election year. There are no limits for the Board of Education and Santa Monica College Board of Trustee campaigns. Candidates are also finding it especially hard to fundraise in the current economic climate. “When you’ve got a down economy, it’s even harder,” Katz, who has held a fundraiser, gone door-to-door and sent out mailers soliciting money, said. Raising money for an unknown candidate could be even more difficult. Leading the challengers is Ocean Park activist Ted Winterer who has brought in more than $12,000 this year, followed by former Airport Commissioner Susan Hartley, who has raised about $5,200. Both are longtime, well-known community activists. Linda Piera-Avila, a physical therapist, has raised more than $1,900 as of Sept. 30, bringing in contributions from a fundraising party and e-mail solicitations. “I’ve been spending more time talking with voters and studying the issues rather than dialing for dollars,” she said. Some of her donations have come through the Los Angeles and Ventura County Green parties, giving a total of $500 to her campaign. Michael Kovac, who advises small businesses, waited until the last few weeks to focus on fundraising efforts, raising only $280 from the beginning of the year through Sept. 30, but bringing in thousands since then. His campaign has between $5,000 and $10,000. The point was to save everything for the final two weeks for a last-minute campaign push, he said. “I think as a newcomer the challenge is name recognition,” he said. “My goal for most of my campaign has been awareness.” Piera-Avila said that she hopes City Hall will eventually adopt a public financing system, allowing more parity in the campaign process. Candidates under this system would be able to receive public funding for campaigns, but sign away rights to private fundraising. The result would be more interest from low-income residents in entering public service, she said. “It takes the effect of special interest out of the picture,” she said. Not involved in the fundraising circus is a group of newcomers, long-time activists and perennial candidates. Jerry Rubin, who co-founded the Santa Monica Treesavers with Hartley, has opted not to raise any funds, instead directing supporters to give money to Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.
I’VE BEEN SPENDING MORE TIME TALKING WITH VOTERS AND STUDYING THE ISSUES RATHER THAN DIALING FOR DOLLARS.” Linda Piera-Avila City Council candidate
“I hope I can get the message out that people need to really get involved in the process, go to the candidates forums and get information from CityTV and the League of Women Voters’ Web site,” Rubin said. “It shouldn’t be just predicated on a PR-driven expensive slick mailing arriving 20 times in your mailbox.” Jon Mann, a free Internet advocate who has run for council more than a half dozen times, Treesaver Herbert Silverstein, homeless women advocate Linda Armstrong, and young upstart John Blakely have not raised any money. OUTRAISING SCHOOL INCUMBENTS
In the traditionally smaller-scale school board races, Chris Bley, who teaches at the Brentwood School, has outdone his competitors, raising more than $19,500 as of Sept. 30. Incumbents Maria Leon-Vazquez and Jose Escarce and newcomer Ben Allen have raised a combined $12,771 during that time. Among Bley’s donors are family members, who have given more than $2,300. But the majority of donations are from special education advocates from the district and the Los Angeles area, which Bley attributes to his stance to bring change to the troubled special education program. Bley has brought in another $10,000 since the end of the previous filing period. “I’ve knocked on many doors in Santa Monica and Malibu, going out and making sure I’ve talked to everyone in every place possible, not just in special education,” he said. OTHER RACES ARE QUIET
Not much has been happening on the fundraising fronts in the other two local races. Robert Kronovet, who is vying for one of two available seats on the Rent Control Board, is the lone candidate who has raised money for his campaign. The realtor has raised about $3,100 this year. He is up against incumbent Joel Koury and newcomer Christopher Braun, both of whom have been backed by Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights. There’s been slightly more activity in the SMC board race where the three incumbents have brought in a combined $17,000, the majority of which comes from Margaret Quinones-Perez who raised more than $13,400 this year. Heidi Hoeck, an interior designer who served as the president of the college’s Associated Students, has not raised any money. The next filing period is Oct. 23. melodyh@smdp.com