Culver City Voter Guide: Measures B, RE; Council, School Board

CULVER CITY, CA — Culver City voters will decide Tuesday who represents them on the city council, CCUSD school board and if they vote yes or no on Measures B and RE.

Many voters have already cast their ballots via early voting or mail-in voting due to the pandemic and voting centers are open in the city, where people can also drop off their ballots.

RELATED: Vote Centers In Culver City: Where To Vote In Person 2020

More than 9,155 Culver City voters have already submitted their ballots as of Oct. 22.

There are three Culver City Council seats to be filled. The terms expire in four years.

There are nine candidates on the ballot:

• Göran Eriksson - Business owner, business owner and incumbent; currently serving as Culver City mayor.
• Robert Zirgulis - Teacher in Culver City School district for 13 years, 36-year resident; Realtor.
• Albert Vera - Small business owner, city commissioner and longtime resident.
• Darrel Menthe - Civil trial attorney, progressive business leader and President of the Culver City Downtown Business Association.
• Freddy Puza - Higher Education Administrator; Associate Director, Communications at Loyola Marymount University; served on Culver City's Committee on Homelessness.
• Yasmine McMorrin - Attorney, equity advocate, and Culver City parent; Interim Dean of Students and Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at USC Gould School of Law.
• Khin Khin Gyi - Physician, former president of the Culver City Democratic Club.
• Heather Wollin - Family law paralegal, Culver City local.
• Anthony Rizzo - Government financial accountant.

Two Culver City School Board seats are open and there are six candidates vying for the positions.

These are the six school board candidates on the ballot:

• Lauren Jagnow - Student advocate, parent
• Paula Amezola de Herrera - Advisor/Epidemiologist/Commissioner
• Tiffany Spellman - Educator
• Kelly Kent - Board member, neuroscientist
• Scott Zeidman - Father, businessperson

Here's more information about Measure B and Measure RE:

Measure B

Measure B is a rent control amendment measure that would give voter approval of all interim or permanent rent control.

• A "no" vote opposes requiring voter approval for ordinances to establish rent control, including ordinances establishing rent control after January 1, 2019.

RELATED: Culver City's Rent Control Goes Into Effect On Oct. 30

Some locals argue that Measure B could restrict some of the rent control and tenant protections passed by Culver City Council and now in effect as of Oct. 31.

"These are very strong protections, based on what has worked in other communities," said Protect Culver City Renters in a statement to the Culver City Observer. "However, these renter protections are already in danger. Measure B was placed on the November ballot by the curiously named Protect Culver City, a PAC formed in reaction to the passage of the rent freeze. It is funded largely by out-of-town landlord and real estate money. If passed, Measure B will repeal the new rent control ordinance and require any future rent control to be passed by ballot initiative."

Measure RE

Measure RE is a property transfer tax measure.

"The November 2020 election will provide Culver City residents an opportunity to vote on Measure RE: an amendment to the City's real estate transfer tax," according to the city's website. "If approved by voters, Measure RE would establish a marginal tax rate with four brackets, based on sales price or value, for the City's real estate transfer tax."

• A "no" vote opposes authorizing an increase to the established property transfer tax from a flat-rate of 0.45% to 0.45% on amounts of $1,499,999 or less, 1.5% on amounts of $1.5 million - $2,999,999, 3% on amounts of $3 million - $9,999,999, 4% on amounts of $10 million or more, and 0.45% on sales of 100% affordable housing, generating an estimated $6 million per year for essential services including parks, street maintenance, addressing homelessness, youth services, senior services and economic recovery.

Learn more about Measure B and Measure RE on Culver City's 2020 election website.

Stay updated with the latest election results and news in California. Sign up for free real-time alerts and daily newsletters from Patch.