October 5, 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: Jerry Rubin
Running for: 4-year City Council seat
Status: Challenger

How long have you lived in Santa Monica? In what neighborhood do you live?
20 years. 17 years in Ocean Park. 43 years in Venice/S.M. area. I am originally from Philadelphia.

Why do you enjoy living in Santa Monica?
If you visit my campaign website and click "I Love Santa Monica" you will see some of the many reasons my wife Marissa and I really enjoy and love living in Santa Monica. Visit- JerryPeaceActivistRubin.com.

How would you rate the current City Council? What particular decisions stand out for you that made you form that opinion?
I think it is a hard job, and all 7 are certainly doing much dedicated and hard work, especially when they are working collaboratively.

What is the most frequent complaint you hear on the campaign trail? What do you plan to do about this issue?
Lots of complaints but not really enough praise and appreciation. Of course Santa Monica has many challenges such as traffic, homelessness, etc., etc., but we would all benefit from a bit more individual and collective reflection on the positive things that make Santa Monica such a truly great city. I'm not saying concerns and complaints aren't constructively important, including my own. However, if elected (even if not elected), I want to work more on promoting win-win solutions and community unity.

Should Santa Monica residents be allowed to vote on major development agreements? Why or why not?
I don't think it is routinely the best idea. It would politicize the open process we have now.

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?
Yes on "Y". Yes Yes on "YY". The nearly $13,000,000 Santa Monica could make from this reasonable transaction and use tax would stay in Santa Monica, would exempt food, groceries and medicine, and would help our schools, firefighters and police officers immeasurably, just to mention a few.

Solve the traffic problem in Santa Monica in under 150 words.
If only it were that simple (I might actually need at least 200 words). I do know real solutions are complicated, but let me offer a few simple, helpful and realistic things to consider: Drive a little less. Take the bus, bike or walk a little more. Remember those three very beautiful words: Big Blue Bus. We have the best bus company in America and it's still the best deal in town!

If you were emperor with absolute authority for a day and could do one thing for Santa Monica, what would it be?
Appoint myself emperor for life as kind of a scary jokester prank, and then fire myself to a happy symphony of collective resident and visitor relief. (Oops, that's two things).