Voting in the Area and At-Large Representative Election is Underway Through August 30
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Pacific Palisades Community Council hosted a candidates forum for its 2024 area and at-large representative election at its most recent board meeting, which took place at Palisades Branch Library on the evening of August 8.
Candidates are vying to represent Areas One to Eight of Pacific Palisades, as well as an at-large seat, for a two-year term.
Running uncontested are JoAnna Rodriguez (Area One), Steve Cron (Area Two), Karen Ridgley (Area Four), Kimberly Bloom (Area Five), Sharon Kilbride (Area Seven), Andrew Wolfberg (Area Eight) and Chris Spitz (at-large).
There are two contested seats: Area Three (with candidates Joe Layton and Julia Nilsen) and Area Six (Lorie Cudzil and David Schwarz).
At the start of the candidates forum, each person—contested or not—had the opportunity to give a brief introduction of themselves, including about their time living in the Palisades, the issues that are important to them and their specific area, and their relevant experience to taking a position on the PPCC board.
Many candidates touched on topics like crime, people experiencing homelessness, fire safety and keeping the community clean.
“I want to feel safe,” Rodriguez—a mother of two teenagers—said during her introduction.
Spitz, who introduced herself last, said that everyone who spoke before her was “fabulous,” that they shared similar sentiments to how she feels.
Then, candidates in Area Three and Six were given questions from the audience and PPCC board to answer, including what local organizations of which they are a part, if they would consider serving in the alternate seat if not elected (all four contested candidates said they would consider it) and how they would reach their constituents.
When it comes to Area Six, which includes George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon, the candidates were posed a question about what they would do when it comes to issues related to the park.
Cudzil said she is part of an email chain she could utilize to contact people in her area, that she has no issue with something being done, in terms of the forthcoming trail and/or bridge projects, but that it needs to be done safely.
Schwarz said he would listen to residents and help educate, pointing out that people get killed on Pacific Coast Highway, in terms of the importance of balancing the risk of doing nothing versus doing something with safety in mind.
The Area Three candidates were later asked what the three most important issues are for its residents, which includes Marquez Knolls and both sides of Sunset Boulevard from Palisades Drive to Bienveneda Avenue, as well as St. Matthew’s School and Bel-Air Bay Club.
Nilsen said the safety of kids after school, as well as in homes and at the beaches, citing additional police presence. She also mentioned monitoring the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power proposed distributing station near Marquez Charter Elementary School, which has been put on hold while the agency models options.
Layton spoke about public safety issues, including burglaries and fires, noting the importance of having a plan, including how to streamline getting the word out to the community when something is underway.
A two-week voting period began Friday, August 16, at 8 a.m. and will end Friday, August 30, at 9 p.m. The electronic ballot is available on the PPCC website—which is “the only way to vote.” There is also a link to full candidates statements, provided by each person running.
Residents of Pacific Palisades may vote for the area representative in which their primary residence is located (a map is available at the PPCC website) and for the at-large candidate. Property owners and business operators may vote for the at-large representative. Voters must be 18 years old as of August 30, 2024.
Election winners will be announced at the next PPCC meeting on Thursday, September 12.
For more information, visit pacpalicc.org.
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