VERITAS Slated for November Ballot

By Teresa Rochester

Jan. 10 -- A controversial initiative that calls for the creation of seven electoral districts in the city with a mayor elected at large will go to voters in November, following a unanimous decision by the City Council at its meeting Tuesday night.

In a 6 to 0 decision (Councilman Bob Holbrook had left by the 1 a.m. vote), council members opted to put the Voters Election Reform Initiative for a True Accountability System (VERITAS) before voters during the general election on Nov. 5, instead of holding a special election or setting their own date.

"I know it's tempting to debate the merits of this issue, but that's not what's before us," said Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McKeown. "There's guaranteed to be high turnout in November."

Sponsors of the initiative had hoped for a special election, contending that the issue would be lost on the general election ballot, which will include races for three open City Council seats and a referendum on the living wage.

Several council members - particularly those who make up the council's five person super majority backed by Santa Monicans for Renters Rights, which opposes the measure -- have voiced their dissatisfaction with the initiative that narrowly qualified for the ballot last month. If approved VERITAS also would set term limits.

"We believe the voters of Santa Monica will support VERITAS not only to elect council members by districts but to set reasonable term limits, elect their mayor and allow independents a chance to be elected," said initiative co-sponsor Irene Zivi, who added that it was nearly impossible for an independent to successfully run against candidates backed by cash-rich slates.

Paul DeSantis, an attorney and VERITAS' other co-sponsor, told the council that term limits are popular nationally and that "nationally we see the movement for the direct election of the President of the USA, which parallels VERITAS' call for the direct election of the mayor."

Councilman Ken Genser questioned whether the districts would extend to the Board of Education or the College Board of Trustees, which also will have seats up in the general election.