With 4 months and 12 shopping days separating us from next spring’s vote for two available seats on the City Council, let’s dream a little.
Can you picture Meghan Sahli-Wells and Jeff Cooper occupying the chairs now owned by Gary Silbiger and Scott Malsin?
I can. But the scene is likely to remain in my head.
With two freshman faces joining the three first-time winners from the last election, a year and a half ago, the transition to a new era would be complete if a Cooper/Sahli-Wells twosome runs 1-2. If you hold your breath, you probably will faint, though, before fate steps in.
It is a pretty long shot, from Dec. 1 to April 13, and an even longer shot that Sahli-Wells/Cooper will send Mr. Malsin home.
Hardly anyone in Culver City believes that Mr. Malsin, the only eligible incumbent, will, or even can, lose.
Climate change will strike us before this happens.
Nearly 8 years ago, David Hauptman was the last City Council incumbent to lose.
Incumbents bring embedded advantages to elections — the natural momentum of their office, name recognition, funding sources, backers sensing a winning ride and their organization structure.
Mr. Malsin showed himself to be a shrewd campaigner in his first try 4 years ago. He unlocked the 2 secrets to winning elections in Culver City
Attract leaders of the community — not the self-anointed ones — and be tightly organized.
It seems so obviously rudimentary, but the non-finishers in last month’s School Board election will tell you those are exactly the reasons all three failed.
A month and a half before the filing deadline, several more candidates are expected to apply for a field of perhaps six.
Trying Out for the Future?
Maybe there will be a muscular contender among them.
But unless he can match Mr. Malsin dollar-for-dollar, for heavyweight backing and for sound organization, he may just be building up for a practice run.
Ms. Sahli-Wells appears to meet the requisite criteria.
Mr. Cooper may.
Both bring a measure of name recognition, she from accelerated community involvement the last couple of years and regular speaking roles at City Council meetings, he from longevity in the community, numerous club memberships and previous candidate experience.
Mr. Cooper did not miss by much in the last election cycle, when newcomers Andy Weissman, Chris Armenta and Mehaul O’Leary were swept into office. Near-misses are a swinging door for candidates. The perceived advantage of nearly winning can be a stigma unless its upside is constantly pitched.
Unless Mr. Malsin commits an unlikely gaffe, the entire race on April 13 is for the chair of Mr. Silbiger. He is being sidelined by dreaded term limits just as son Karlo’s much anticipated career, on the School Board, becomes airborne.
