By Jorge Casuso

July 16, 2024 -- The four candidates backed by Santa Monica's political establishment wasted no time pulling nomination papers this week after winning early endorsements from two major groups.

College Trustee Barry Snell picked up the paperwork from the City Clerk Tuesday, one day after his running mates -- Ellis Raskin, Natalya Zernitskaya and Dan Hall -- threw their hats in the ring.

By contrast, none of the three incumbents who represent the opposing Change slate -- Mayor Phil Brock and Councilmembers Oscar de la Torre and Christine Parra -- pulled papers during the first two days of the nomination period.

Only de la Torre has announced he will seek reelection, while Brock has said there is an "80 to 90 percent" chance he will run and will make a final decision this weekend. Para is not expected to seek reelection.

Councilmember Gleam Davis, who has been reelected with the political establishment's backing since being appointed to the Council in 2009, has said she will not run in November.

The city's political establishment must win two of the four open seats in the November 5 race to regain control of the City Council.

In addition to the four candidates backed by Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights (SMRR) and the local Democratic Club, four other Council hopefuls pulled nominating papers this week.

They include Manju Raman, a member of the City's Public Safety Reform Oversight Commission, and Janet McLaughlin, a journalist who started Santa Monicans against Crime (SMaC), a public Facebook group with 1,200 members.

Like the Change incumbents, both plan to run on a public safety platform in the race for four Council seats.

Other Council hopefuls who have pulled nominating papers are Whitney Bain, a journalist who ran in the 2022 Council race, and Stephen Garr, a first-time candidate.

Rent Control Board Chair Ericka Lesley, who failed to win the backing of SMRR and the Dem Club, has not pulled papers.

In the race for two open seats on the Rent Control Board, Kay Ambriz, who was appointed to the five-member board last month, pulled papers on Monday, along with community volunteer Phillis Dudick.

No incumbents will be seeking reelection after Board member Anastasia Foster pulled nomination papers to run for one of three open seats on the College Board.

Those seeking to run for Council and Rent Board have until August 14 to file nomination papers if an incumbent does not file.

Write-in candidates can file between September 9 and October 22.