Field of Council Hopefuls Grows to Nearly Two Dozen

By Jorge Casuso

July 13 -- Eighteen City Council hopefuls pulled papers from the City Clerk Monday, entering a crowded field that so far numbers 21 declared candidates for four open seats.

Two incumbents -- Mayor Richard Bloom and Councilman Herb Katz -- were among the candidates pulling nomination papers on the first day. Council members Ken Genser and Michael Feinstein have said they will run for reelection, but did not pull papers.

Joining the incumbents who took the initial step Monday was Patricia Hoffman, a former School Board president and member of Bayside District board, who -- along with Bloom, Genser and Feinstein -- will seek the endorsement of the powerful tenants group Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights.

Maria Loya, a Pico Neighborhood Association leader who announced her intention to seek the SMRR endorsement at a meeting of the group’s leaders Saturday, did not pull papers.

Tom Viscount, a potential SMRR challenger, ended months of speculation by pulling nominating papers Monday. The Red Cross’ director of resources, development and communications, Viscount, along with Katz, will likely turn to the Chamber of Commerce for support. Viscount is registered as an American Independent.

Also pulling papers Monday were five candidates who have made previous bids, including Mat Dinolfo, a doctor of internal medicine who made a surprisingly strong showing in the 2002 council race.

Other former candidates are Jerry Peace Activist Rubin, who ran in 2000 and 2002, and John Mann, who ran in 1994, 1998, 1999 and 2000. While Rubin legally added “Peace Activist” to his name after the City refused to list it as an occupation on the ballot, Mann, who has consistently run on a high-tech platform, changed his name from John Stevens.

Other former candidates who, like Rubin, hope the third time will be a charm, are Chuck Allord, the only registered Republican in the race, who ran in 2000 and 2002, and Don Gray, the former head of the Pico Neighborhood Association, who made unsuccessful bids in a 1999 special election and in 2000.

Another former head of the Pico Neighborhood Association, Peter Tigler, also pulled papers on Monday. No resident of the Pico neighborhood has ever been elected to the City Council.

Also pulling papers Monday was Pro Se, who made an unsuccessful bid two years ago, and several newcomers to the political scene -- Linda Armstrong, Beverly Donaloff, Susan Fraser (who along with Feinstein and Mann are Green Party members), Joe Paolucci, Scott D. Reiter, Erwin Ruch and Jennie Scheer.

School Board President Jose Escarce pulled papers Monday to run for reelection. Challengers Ana Maria Jara, a Pico neighborhood activist, and Kathy Wisnicki, also took steps to run for three open seats on the board.

Pulling papers for three open seats on the College Board of Trustees were Rob Rader, a member of the Bayside District Board, and M. Douglas Willis, a member of the Rent Control Board.

Joining the field were Susan Aminoff, a benefits negotiator for LA Community Colleges, and retired SMC faculty member Charles Donaldson.

Aminoff and Willis were recently endorsed by Santa Monica’s Education Team, which is comprised of the Santa Monica College Faculty Association and the Santa Monica-Malibu Teachers Association.

Of the three incumbents, only Margaret Quinones, who was recently appointed to the powerful California Community Colleges Board of Governors, has indicated she will run.

The two other incumbents, Annette Shamey and Graham Pope, recently announced they would not seek reelection.

Joel C. Koury was the only Rent Control Board hopeful to pull papers in the race for two open seats.

Potential candidates have until August 9 to submit the valid signatures of at least 100 Santa Monica voters required to make the ballot.