Applications Open on June 24 for Santa Monica City Council Vacancy
June 23, 2020 10:14 PM
SANTA MONICA, Calif. – At tonight’s Council meeting, the Santa Monica City Council declared Councilmember Greg Morena’s seat vacant in response to the letter of resignation he submitted on June 17. Councilmember Morena explained that he is resigning effective June 24 due to the impact the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) Stay-at-Home orders have had on his business on the Santa Monica Pier.
The City Council unanimously voted to accept applications from those who wish to be considered for appointment to the vacant seat. Interested applicants may submit applications beginning at noon on Wednesday, June 24, to be considered for appointment to the vacant Council seat. Applications should be submitted at smgov.net/councilappoint. Applicants must be residents and registered voters of the City of Santa Monica, and cannot be employed by the City. This position is subject to the State Political Reform Act requiring disclosure of conflict of interests, and the City’s Taxpayer Protection Act (Oaks Initiative).
Applications are due by noon on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. All applications received before the deadline will be considered by the City Council at the July 14, 2020 Council meeting. The person appointed to the vacant at-large Council seat will assume the seat upon Council confirmation of the appointment. The seat will be up for election at the next general municipal election, currently scheduled for November 3, 2020.
The City has pending its appeal from a judgment in a lawsuit that might require Santa Monica to transition from an at-large election system to a district-based system where each of the seven Councilmembers is elected by and represents the district in which the Councilmember lives and might require an election for Council seats to be held before November 3, 2020. The results of the appeal would not impact the appointment through the next election for Council seats, but could affect when that election occurs and how the seat is filled at that election.
More information on serving on the City Council can be found at smgov.net/councilappoint and information to run for City Council can be found at smvote.org.
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Media Contact
Constance Farrell
Communications & Public Information Manager
Constance.Farrell@santamonica.gov