By Jorge Casuso

August 28, 2024 -- Santa Monica's public safety unions will throw their considerable clout and hefty warchests into stopping the city's political establishment from regaining control of City Hall.

The Santa Monica Police Officers Association and Santa Monica Firefighters Local 1109 announced Wednesday morning that they will support Mayor Phil Brock, Councilmember Oscar de la Torre and candidates Ericka Lesley and Vivian Roknian in the November 5 race for four open Council seats.

"Phil, Oscar, Ericka, and Vivian are deeply rooted in Santa Monica, attending local high schools, serving on local boards such as SMMUSD, Downtown Santa Monica, and Chair of the Rent Control Board," the unions wrote in a joint statement.

"They are truly representative of the diversity and localism our residents expect. We urge you to support them in their campaign.

"From our perspective as the police officers and firefighters who serve our city, their success is crucial to shaping Santa Monica's future as a safe and innovative place to live, work, and visit."

The unions were widely expected to endorse Brock and de la Torre, who have sharply focused on public safety policies and spending during their first four-year terms, as well as Roknian, a small business owner supported by the local business community.

But the selection of Lesley, an advocate of police reform, is a startling move that could dampen Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights (SMRR) and the Democratic Club's chances of winning two of the four seats they need to regain a majority on the seven-member Council in November.

The endorsements represent a major boost for Lesley, whose campaign was written off after she failed to win the backing of both groups, as well as those of the Community for Excellent Public Schools (CEPS) and Santa Monica Forward, who make up the local political establishment.

Now, Lesley's cash-strapped campaign will have the financial backing of the City's Police and Firefighters unions, which had raised a combined total of nearly $200,000 as of June 30, making them the City's best-funded political organizations.

The endorsements come two weeks after Lesley's name was chosen to top the ballot by the Secretary of State using a random drawing of the letters of the alphabet ("November Ballot Order Set," August 26, 2024).

Wednesday's endorsements represent the unions' rejection of the four establishment candidates, who support justice reform and endorse the reelection of LA County District Attorney George Gascon, a lightening rod for the pro-law enforcement movement.

Lesley's candidacy suddenly threatens to siphon votes from the slate composed of SMC Trustee Barry Snell, Planning Commissioner Ellis Raskin, Natalya Zernitskaya and Pier Corporation Board Chair Dan Hall.

The City's major political organizations had hoped that by supporting a unified slate, they would avert a repeat of a split that cost them a Council majority in 2022 ("Major Political Establishment Groups to Field United Council Slate," June 27, 2024).

This year, Lesley's candidacy, "won't make much of a difference," SMRR Co-chair and former mayor Denny Zane told The Lookout this week. "There's no way it will be like last time, unless she has $100,000 to spend."

Overnight, Lesley's endorsement by the public safety unions could upend the political establishment's well-laid plans and give her a chance to win a seat on the Council.

Editor's note: A previous version of this article stated that Santa Monica's political establishment needs to win three of four open seats to regain a Council majority. It needs to win two seats.