Ted Winterer, City Council Candidate, Wins SMRR Endorsement

August 3 2010

We are thrilled to announce that Ted Winterer, Planning Commissioner and long-time supporter of SMCLC, was endorsed this weekend for his run for City Council by the membership of the Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights.

Ted was the highest vote getter at SMRR's convention, receiving a whopping 86% of the vote. The endorsement should help his Council candidacy tremendously. SMRR members could have endorsed three candidates for the open four-year seats, but chose to only endorse two, Ted and other SMCLC supporter, Kevin McKeown.

For those of you who don't know Ted, he's been a leader on the Planning Commission in supporting less commercial development and reducing the traffic impacts of such development. An expert in land-use and transportation, Ted fought hard for a new Land Use and Circulation Element ("LUCE") that would ensure zoning ordinances don't give loopholes to developers.

In other big news, SMRR members also voted NOT to endorse Pam O'Connor, who has consistently sided with big developers over Santa Monica residents concerned with large commercial developments and their impacts on traffic and local neighborhoods.

SMCLC will be releasing documents soon showing just how cozy Ms. O'Connor is with big developers. These documents will confirm what has long concerned many of us.

The by-laws of SMRR allow for its Steering Committee to go against the wishes of its membership and endorse a candidate its members specifically voted not to endorse. This backroom dealmaking, however, would be a slap in the face to rank-and-file SMRR members, who voted NOT to endorse Ms. O'Connor. We hope SMRR's Steering Committee will not take this anti-democratic action.

The Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City strongly supports both Ted and Kevin because we can count on them to fight for residents. We hope you'll join us in working to ensure both their victories this November. If you want to volunteer, please email us at info@smclc.net so we can get you involved in this exciting campaign.

Thanks!
SMCLC