By Jorge Casuso

November 28, 2011 -- There was once a time when being a member of the Santa Monica Rent Control Board felt like being in the trenches dodging verbal volleys.

Irate landlords were known to rip out the podium and toss it at the dais, shout insults from the gallery, even circle City Hall with a tank.

But the packed contentious meeting faded after the State legislature approved a law that allowed landlords to raise the rents of units vacated voluntarily or for non-payment of rent.

Now the meetings are sparsely attended and even a Republican landlord was elected to a board that had never had a member without the blessing of the city's powerful tenant's group.

So, while the job of sitting through board meetings may be less exciting, someone's got to do it. And you don't have to wait until next November to run.

The Santa Monica Rent Control Board is inviting applications and letters of interest to fill one unscheduled vacancy on the board until the next general election in November 2012.

Candidates are "invited to apply regardless of race, sex, age, disability, religion, marital status, national origin, sexual preference, or ancestry." (It doesn't say if landlords should apply, though it's likely not discouraged.)

Applicants must be residents and registered voters in the City of Santa Monica.

Interested parties should send letters, resumes, and/or applications to:

Glenda Jacobs, Board Secretary
City Hall
1685 Main Street, Room 202
Santa Monica, CA 90401

Applications are due in the Rent Control Board office by 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 15, 2011.