****CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE INTERVIEW SCHEDULE ****
Candidate Interviews: Part 1 July 18th, and Part 2 July 27th
SMRR will hold interviews for candidates seeking our endorsement. These interviews are open to SMRR members. City Council, Rent Control Board, SMMUSD Board, and SMC Trustees candidate interviews will take place July 18th and July 27th.
These interviews will be held online via Zoom. If you are a SMRR member in good standing and wish to watch the Interviews on Zoom, you can sign up to watch the interviews by contacting SMRR at [email protected].
Click each candidate’s name below to read their completed SMRR questionnaire or watch their interview video.
CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES:
Questionnaire: Caroline Torosis Interview video: Caroline Torosis
Questionnaire: Danny Ivanov Interview video: Danny Ivanov
Questionnaire: Angela Scott Interview video: Angela Scott
Questionnaire: Brett Morrow Interview video: Brett Morrow
Questionnaire: Ericka Lesley Interview video: Ericka Lesley
Questionnaire: Lana Negrete Interview video: Lana Negrete
Questionnaire: Doug Trussler Interview video: Doug Trussler
Questionnaire: Eli Gill Interview video: Eli Gill
RENT CONTROL BOARD CANDIDATES:
Questionnaire: Heather Thomason Interview video: Heather Thomason
Questionnaire: Sue Himmelrich Interview video: Sue Himmelrich
Questionnaire: Kurt Gonska Interview video: Kurt Gonska
Questionnaire: Soledad Marcial Interview video: Soledad Marcial
SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES:
Questionnaire: Alicia Mignano Interview video: Alicia Mignano
Questionnaire: Robbie Staenberg Interview video: Robbie Staenberg
Questionnaire: Laurie Lieberman Interview video: Laurie Lieberman
Questionnaire: Stacy Rouse Interview video: Stacy Rouse
Questionnaire: Harry Leshner Interview video: Harry Leshner
COLLEGE BOARD CANDIDATES:
Questionnaire: Luis Castañón Interview video: Luis Castañón
Questionnaire: Tom Peters Interview video: Tom Peters
Questionnaire: Oscar de la Torre Interview video: Oscar de la Torre
Questionnaire: Kera Blades-Snell Interview video: Kera Blades-Snell
Questionnaire: Sion Roy Interview video: Sion Roy
Attend the 2026 SMRR Convention
On August 9 SMRR will hold its 2026 Convention at Grant Elementary School in the auditorium starting at 1:00 PM. Sign In begins at 12:30 PM. This meeting provides the opportunity for SMRR members to determine which candidates for elected office and which ballot measures will receive the support of the organization in the November election campaign.
You must be present to vote, and your 2026 dues must be paid. Dues are $35 per calendar year; $15 for hardship. New SMRR members who joined prior to May 12, 2026 are eligible to vote.
Members from 2025 who still owe 2026 dues are encouraged to renew online as soon as possible with a credit card at www.smrr.org/donate or by mailing a check in time to be received by August 4th to SMRR, 2118 Wilshire Blvd., #832, Santa Monica, CA 90403 to vote at this meeting. Renewing early, online or by check before the meeting, allows us time to process your membership and will facilitate the check-in procedure on the day of the meeting.
2026 SMRR Convention
Signs will direct you to the meeting once you are inside the school grounds.
- Date and Time: August 9, Sign In begins at 12:30 PM, meeting begins 1:00PM
- Location: Grant Elementary School Auditorium, 2368 Pearl Street, Santa Monica
- Parking and Access: Enter the meeting from the front gate on 24th and Pearl, or the rear gate on 24th / Ocean Park Blvd. A limited number of accessible parking spaces are available at the front parking lot at 24th and Pearl Street. Guests who need accessible parking should use the front parking lot on 24th and Pearl Street. There is a parking lot at the rear of the school on 24th Street off of Ocean Park Boulevard for guests without accessibility needs. There is street parking nearby. Please read all parking signs.
The school’s address is 2368 Pearl Street.
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**** CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE JULY 18 INTERVIEW SCHEDULE****
