By Lookout Staff

June 23, 2016 -- Planning Commissioner Jennifer Kennedy, who made an unsuccessful bid for City Council two years ago, announced Tuesday that she would run again for a seat in November.

Kennedy was endorsed by the city's powerful tenants group Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights in 2014 and finished sixth among 14 candidates vying for three open seats.

“I’ve lived in our City for 17 years and my family and I are investing our future here," Kennedy said in a statement released Wednesday. "I will be asking the voters to trust me to serve them on the City Council”

A longtime member of SMRR, Kennedy has been "a professional behind the group’s organizational efforts on behalf of renters" and "has left her position to work on her own campaign," according to the statement.

Kennedy failed to win the group's endorsement at its 2014 convention, finishing fifth, but was endorsed the following week by the group's steering committee, of which she had been a member ("SMRR Backs McKeown, Kennedy for Santa Monica City Council," August 11, 2014).

Kennedy said her priorities are "controlling growth and protecting residential neighborhoods" and "fighting for seniors, working families and individuals who need affordable housing."

Other priorities are maintaining "strong rent control protections, increasing open space and enhancing our city's natural, sustainable environment,” she said.

Kennedy said she believes Santa Monica residents have what it takes to tackle the city's biggest challenges.

“I understand that we have some tough challenges working to create affordable housing," she said. "And I know that we will need very creative ways to increase our open space given our density but we have thoughtful residents and a dynamic community spirit which can create the possibilities for these goals.”

Incumbents Cleam Davis and Ted Winterer have announced they will run for reelection. The third incumbent, Terry O'Day," who was appointed to the council in 2010 to fill the seat vacated by the death of Ken Genser, has not indicated whether he will run.

Firefighter Dominick Bei has said he intends to run for office and has formed an exploratory committee, but it is not clear if he can serve on the council and remain a City employee ("Santa Monica Firefighter Plans City Council Bid," June 3, 2016).