By Jorge Casuso

August 9, 2024 -- Councilmember Christine Parra will not seek a second City Council term in November in order to focus on supporting her family as her mother battles cancer, she said in a statement Friday.

The announcement comes after Parra pulled nomination papers on July 29, surprising most local political observers who did not expect her to run (NEWS ANALYSIS -- Parra's Candidacy Alters Race," July 30, 2024).

The decision to pull out of the hotly contested race for four City Council seats was also unexpected to most outside her inner circle.

"After much thought and deep reflection on both my personal circumstances and the needs of our community, I have decided not to seek re-election for my position on the City Council," Parra wrote in a press release issued Friday afternoon.

"Serving on the City Council has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together and the progress we’ve made in our city. However, recent personal challenges have led me to reassess my future commitments.

"My family is currently facing a significant challenge -- my mother’s ongoing battle with cancer," Para wrote. "This situation has understandably shifted my priorities, and I feel that my focus needs to be on supporting my family during this difficult time.

"Balancing these responsibilities with my role on the Council has become increasingly challenging, and I believe it is essential for me to be fully present for my family right now."

Parra's decision boosts the prospects that Santa Monica's political establishment can regain the Council majority it has held for most of the past four decades.

The four challengers backed by Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights (SMRR) and the local Democratic club need to win two seats in the November 5 race to flip the Council's 4 to 3 majority held by the opposing Change faction.

Parra, fellow Change incumbents Mayor Phil Brock and Councilmember Oscar de la Torre were seeking to round out their slate with a fourth pro-law-enforcement candidate.

Parra said she believes the Change faction's prospects of maintaining a slim majority and furthering its law-and-order agenda, supported by Councilmember Lana Negrete, remains strong.

"Shortly a new Pro-Safety 'Change Slate' consisting of Mayor Phil Brock, Councilmember Oscar de la Torre and two amazing Santa Monicans will be announced and I wholeheartedly support them and hope that they can earn your trust and support as well!" Parra wrote.

"I’ve given considerable thought to the needs of our community. I believe it’s important for our city to have leaders who can dedicate themselves entirely to addressing the issues we face," said Parra.

"The choice is clear in this election, we can either continue the momentum I helped initiate in 2020 for a cleaner and safer city, or we can return power to the special interest elected councilmembers that deprioritized residents and business owners."