Candidate Profile: Tom Ciszek​ For Santa Monica City Council

SANTA MONICA, CA — The 2020 election is heating up in Los Angeles County, and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office. Eyes are primarily focused on the presidential election, but voters will also decide the outcome of state representative and senate seats.

Closer to home, Patch has asked candidates for city council races to discuss their campaigns, publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

In Santa Monica, Tom Ciszek is running for one of the five open seats on Santa Monica City Council.

Age (as of Election Day)

38

Town/City of Residence

Santa Monica

Office Sought

Municipal office

Where appropriate, add specifics about office sought: i.e., State Senate District 1, State Assembly District 2, Temecula City Council District 1, etc.

Santa Monica City Council

Party affiliation (not needed in non-partisan races, including county, city and school offices)

Family

Beloved wife, Blair Warner

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Completed my undergraduate and graduate education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Morehead-Cain Scholar
M.S. Information Science, School of Information and Library Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
B.S. Mathematical Decision Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Occupation

Information Professional, Sr. Analytics Manager (15 years)

Campaign website

https://TomForSantaMonica.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

The single most pressing issue facing our (state, district, community, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Economic Recovery
- Enforce the mask mandate so we can safely reopen our economy
- Lead the city out of the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 virus to be stronger with a balanced budget; collaborate with citizens to prepare for future emergencies
- Use data and analytics to determine the most effective means for revenue generation given the revenue shortfall and lost tourism and visitors
- Open more public spaces for small businesses, restaurants and retail and make Santa Monica more livable for residents during the COVID pandemic and beyond
- Foster a vibrant, not vacant, Main Street center for commerce and community in the Ocean Park neighborhood
- Create a short-term COVID-recovery plan and an updated Master Plan for the city of Santa Monica

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

As a renter and resident of Santa Monica for nearly 15 years, I believe in making decisions grounded in data and analysis. My diverse career spans policy analysis, technology and transportation making me uniquely qualified as the next Santa Monica City Council Member. I have led global data, analytics and research teams for over 10 years. My specialization in analytics and policy research benefits the city by ensuring that decisions are guided by data not dollars.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Safety
- Support the Police and first-responders in Santa Monica with an increased emphasis on community wellbeing, code enforcement, bike and foot patrols and neighborhood programs to make us feel safe as well as statistically being safe.
- Fully implement and continue future development of the Public Safety Reform Advisory Committee recommendations (https://www.santamonica.gov/Media/Default/CMO/Recommendations_PSReformCommittee.pdf)
- Work alongside community organizers and leaders in concert with the police to reinvent a new system of law enforcement that is constituted in equality for all, transparency and community-based oversight and safety
- Foster positive relations between the community and police in perpetuity to cement future prosperity and cull instances of racial injustice and violence
- Improve community safety along the Expo Line corridor, on train platforms, our beaches and neighborhoods; implement a Bike Theft Task force
- Make our streets safer and more open, make improvements in our roadways by widening sidewalks and implementing measurable programs towards achieving Vision Zero for Santa Monica
Affordable Housing
- Collaborate with the LA County and the state and our nation for resources to address the challenge of measuring the impact housing and mental health treatment programs have for the hundreds of people who are homeless on the streets, parks and beaches of Santa Monica
- Expedite the conversion of the 4th Street parking garage to permanent supportive housing and establish partnerships for mental health beds and housing
- Support the diversity necessary for Santa Monica’s maturation and growth and fight for economic justice and fair distribution of moderate income and affordable housing throughout our city
- Enable our our city to develop responsibly by protecting: Santa Monica’s historical architecture, renters and residential neighborhoods

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

A Cleaner, Greener Friendlier Santa Monica

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?



Why should voters trust you?

Voters can share there thoughts directly with me and expect a response at: https://tomforsantamonica.com/share.
Because I don’t have a history with the Santa Monica City Council, voters do not know my past opinions on certain issues and whether my actions will be consistent with my words. I come to the table endorsed by data and to shine sunlight and provide transparency to all taxpayers about our city’s governance.
In order to gain a better understanding about me, I encourage voters to read through my website: https://tomforsantamonica.com and learning about my positions by following @Ciszek on Twitter (https://twitter.com/ciszek).

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

I believe firmly in bringing Santa Monica back to a sustainable, balanced budget. Our city was spending beyond our means before COVID, and the current crisis has only exacerbated this problem. In spite of some of the highest tax rates in the country, the city has mismanaged taxpayer funds. We must get back to a sustainable, balanced budget, and be effective stewards of our public resources.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” (Maya Angelou)

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?