Over the next three Wednesdays, Santa Monica Democrats will decide the most important local endorsements of the 2026 election cycle. Join us as candidates make their case for City Council, Rent Control Board, School Board, and College Board before SMDC members vote on endorsements July 15.
Three debates on July 1:
School Board Debate (5 candidates competing for 4 seats)
Laurie Lieberman, Robbie Staenberg, Alicia Mignano, Harry Leshner, and Stacy Rouse
College Board Debate (5 candidates competing for 4 seats)
Tom Peters, Kera Blades-Snell, Sion Roy, Luis Barerra Castañón, and Oscar de la Torre
Rent Control Board Debate (5 candidates competing for 3 seats)
Heather Thomason, Kurt Gonska, Sue Himmelrich, Brad Ewing, and Soledad Marcial
Then, on July 8, the City Council field takes the stage:
City Council Debate (10 candidates competing for 3 seats)
Angela Scott, Doug Trussler, Caroline Torosis, Ashley Oelsen, Danny Ivanov, Wade Kelley, Eli Gill, Lana Negrete, Brett Morrow, and Ericka Lesley
Both Debate Nights will take place at the Church In Ocean Park (235 Hill Street) and will also live-stream on Zoom. These meetings are free and open to the public. Our commitment to civility will be strictly enforced at these events.
Finally, the Club will meet to vote on endorsements in all four races on July 15 for our Annual Endorsements Meeting, which will be held on Zoom only.
RSVP here. One link for all three events. Fill it out once, and you’ll be invited to all three events in July.
https://forms.gle/Et8DvGz8sBBwUih5A
To vote on July 15:
– Be a 2026 member in good standing
– RSVP for the July meetings (here)