By Jason Islas
Staff Writer

July 16, 2012 -- Election season in Santa Monica officially starts Monday when candidates can begin picking up nomination papers at City Hall.

City officials will offer two workshops for candidates to help them understand the election process -- one at 8:30 a.m. and the other at 4 p.m. Monday -- after which City office hopefuls will get their papers to start the three-week long signature collection process.

"We do the informational sessions in workshop format to reach as many people as possible," said Assistant City Clerk Denise Anderson-Warren.

Potential candidates have from July 16 to August 10 to collect 100 signatures from registered voters living in Santa Monica, said Anderson-Warren.

Candidates will vie to fill positions on 4 government bodies. There are four seats open on the City Council, two seats on the Rent Control Board, three seats on the College Board and three on the School Board.

Some notable Santa Monicans have already announced their intention to run for office.

They include former Council member Tony Vazquez, 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.

Aside from O'Day and Davis' seats, candidates will contend for Mayor Richard Bloom's seat as he prepares to run against Assembly member Betsy Butler to represent California's 50th Assembly District in the State Assembly.

Council member Bobby Shriver has not announced whether he would seek reelection reelection.

Earlier this year, the council rejected an ordinance that would have increased the number of signatures required for nomination or would have required a small in-lieu fee.