SMRR-backed councilmen Paul Rosenstein, Ken Genser and Kelly Olsen routinely join Holbrook and Councilwoman Asha Greenberg in supporting these measures. Vazquez and Mayor Judy Abdo routinely oppose them. Olsen, who initiated many public safety measures, was dropped from the SMRR slate, leaving it without a strong public-safety voice.
SMRR itself is not conceding the public safety territory to the Holbrook crowd. In a campaign mailer to the city's Republicans, the SMRR-backed slate is portrayed as Santa Monica's "crime-fighting team."
The Holbrook slate has an advantage compared to the 1992 election because this year there is no competing conservative slate running to its political right. Indeed, candidate Bob Kronovet, as he repeatedly says, is the only registered Republican in the race.
But money is tight, and the Holbrook slate has precious little of it, about $45,000, to get the word out. SMRR, on the other hand, raised $150,000 this year and had $68,000 as of Sept. 30. All of its candidates have separate campaign accounts as well.
Slates and Independents
Santa Monicans for Renters Rights slate:
* Tony Vazquez (i), community planner
* Pam O'Connor, urban planner
* Bruria Finkel, artist, teacher
Coalition for a Safe Santa Monica slate:
* Bob Holbrook (i), pharmacist
* Ruth Ebner, Los Angeles deputy city attorney
* Matthew P. Kanny, labor/employment attorney
Five candidates for Santa Monica City Council are running independent campaigns:
* Bob Kronovet, film distributor, businessman
* Wallace Peoples, pharmacist
* Joe Sole, publisher
* Jon Stevens, teacher
* Ron Taylor, homeless-rights activist
(i) Incumbent
