First in a series.
City Atty. Carol Schwab said this morning she expects to render an opinion by the middle of next week on whether Culver City, a charter city, should be exempted from a new state law that would combine local elections in communities where voter turnout is low.
“Absolutely,” Ms. Sahli-Wells said in response to the almost rhetorical question of her stance on consolidation of elections.
As with other strongly held positions that have polka-dotted her lively time in office, she is passionate and delivers with ringing clarity.
“When I was campaigning in 2012, and during my time in office, I have been trying to push this idea forward of combining elections in Culver City,” she said.
“So far, asking the City Council several times, and then asking the City Council-School Board Liaison Committee, I have not gotten traction. From my experience, I have not gotten a positive reaction, either from my colleagues on the City Council or the Liaison Committee.”
Not only are politicians pointedly withholding support, there even are clouds about Culver City’s role in the state capital.
In Sacramento, the state’s legislative analyst holds that it is unclear whether Senate Bill 415, signed into law on Sept. 1, to take effect on Jan. 1, 2018, excuses or covers the unique case of Culver City.
Standing proudly on the presumed other side of the fence is City Councilperson Meghan Sahli-Wells.
A career-long advocate of merged elections, she believes that, beginning with the shining example of Santa Monica, she maintains that the new statewide imperative will:
- Conserve money,
- Heighten voter turnout and
- Inspire a healthy kick in the tush to the suddenly under-siege concept of democracy.
“When I was campaigning in 2012 and during my term in office,” Ms. Sahli-Wells said, “I have been trying to push this idea forward in Culver City.”
The response has been discouraging. It has not, however, dampened her determination.
“So far, after asking the City Council several times for support and then in talking to the City Council-School Board Liaison Committee, I have not gotten traction on it,” Ms. Sahli-Wells said.
“I have not had a positive reaction from my colleagues or the Liaison Committee I have served with these past couple of years.”
But as the last-century radio newsman Gabriel Heatter said 75 years ago, “I have good news for you.”
Ms. Sahli-Wells’s face creased into a smile.
“When going to voters, however, and talking to non-elected people, there is a very, very positive reaction,” she said.
(To be continued)
