November 6, 2024 -- The political establishment-backed slate vying to regain control of the City Council solidified its early lead Wednesday morning holding the top spots in the race for four open seats.
The latest results released by the County Registrar's Office show
Dan Hall, Ellis Raskin, Natalya Zernitskaya and Barry Snell with more than 14,000 votes each.
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Incumbent Mayor Phil Brock was more than 1,000 votes short of taking fourth place, while incumbent Councilmember Oscar de la Torre was some 2,000 votes short.
Fellow Safer Santa Monica slate candidates Vivian Roknian and John Putnam were in seventh and eighth place respectively.
Rent Board Chair Ericka Lesley was a distant ninth with 6,350 votes, followed by street performer Wade Kelly with some 1,500 votes.
If the voting trend continues, the establishment-backed candidates who form the United slate would gain a 6 to 1 majority on the Council, which has been controlled by pro-law enforcement members since 2021.
The slate -- backed by Santa Monicans for Rentters' Rights (SMRR), the local Democratic Club and the hotel workers union -- needs to pick up two seats to regain a majority of the Council the political establishment has controlled for most of the past 40 years ("Who Runs the City?" September 20, 2024).
The campaign to regain power centered on a hard-hitting negative campaign to unseat de la Torre, who along with Brock is a staunch supporter of public safety.
If de la Torre retains his seat, he would become Santa Monica's next mayor ("Behind the efforts to unseat de la Torre," October 31, 2024).
The United slate is poised for a sweep despite being outspent by major business donors in what is easily the most expensive Council race in Santa Monica history.
As the race entered the homestretch, PACs and the candidates they support had spent a record $1.4 million ("Council Race Shatters Finance Record," October 30, 2024).
Early results also show three local ballot funding measures poised to win by large margins.
Measure F, which would restructure the City's business taxes to fund essential City services, was leading with 78 percent of the vote -- 25,026 votes to 7,158.
Measure K, which would enhance public safety and create safe routes to school by imposing a tax hike on private parking lots, was leading with 74 percent of the vote -- 24,147 to 8,505.
While Measure QS, a $495 million School bond to improve and replace District facilities, led with 62.5 percent of the vote -- 19,812 to 11,883.
In the race for three seats on the School Board, the three incumbents -- Jennifer Smith, Jon Kean and Maria Leon-Vazquez are poised to regain their seats. Christine Falaguerra, who did not mount a campaign was a distant fourth.
There are no races for College or Rent Control boards due to a lack of challengers.