Santa Monica City Council Votes To Re-Elect Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem

SANTA MONICA, CA — In a heated nearly two-hour-long discussion, Santa Monica City Council voted Tuesday night to again elect Mayor Sue Himmelrich and Mayor Pro Tem Kristin McCowan for two-year terms each.

In a unanimous vote, the council re-appointed Himmelrich and McCowan. McCowan had indicated on Dec. 8 during a council meeting, before discussion or voting, that she may have inadvertently violated the Brown Act. A Brown Act violation refers to anyone who shares confidential information required in a closed city council session.

“She was concerned that she might have violated the Brown Act. She continued that, in accordance with the Interim City Attorney’s advice, she would disclose these conversations on the record, in advance of the Council’s discussion and vote,” Santa Monica City Attorney George S. Cardona said in an email addressed to Olga Zurawska, a resident who submitted a formal demand to cure or correct what she alleges was a violation of the Brown Act.

Himmelrich and McCowan had agreed to do a revote, Himmelrich said.

McCowan prepared a statement and shared it during the meeting, citing that she has faced attacks in the wake of openly disclosing inadvertent Brown Act violations, with people attacking her integrity and using coded, racist language to doubt her abilities and dedication to the position.

"Over the last month, since Ms. Zurawska's demand letter, and particularly since this item was re-agendized for tonight, I have come under severe personal attack by some in this community," McCowan said. "I want to be clear. I have earned my right to be on this council and I am not going to let anyone diminish that. I absolutely respect that some may have a history with the city, that leads them to believe that their best interests or their desired interests are not being represented by every council member. To those people I will simply say that there will always be someone else just as passionate that feels the complete opposite, so it is important that we maintain perspective."

"I have never met an elected official in our city who did not believe they were putting residents first," McCowan said. "Lately, the prospect of 'residents first,' has been usurped by some in our community who identify only certain council members as putting residents first," she said.

"What I know is that many of the individuals protesting my nomination today did not vote for me," she said. "They were not among the 32,000+, and while I represent all Santa Monicans on this council, I will no let these vocal few silence these 32,000 voices. I will not recuse, as some have been calling for."

McCown explained that now, leadership is needed more than ever.

"Our country's in a very dark place," she said. "We turned over power to an ego-maniacal maniac in 2016. He repeatedly put himself first before country at every turn and we have seen the devastation that can cause."

"What qualities me for this role as Mayor Pro Tem is not only my years of government service at the federal, state and local level," she added. "What qualifies me for this role is that I have committed the needs of others above my own. Throughout my lifetime, I was taught that becoming a public servant is not about my own power or what I personally get out of it. It is 100% about how I can use myself in service to others."

Her experience speaks for itself, she said.

"I have taken an oath to serve the Consitution of the United States in one form or another since I was 24 years old," McCowan said.

McCowan has served on Capitol Hill and joined the Obama administration at age 34. She's gone through extensive background checks and received high-security clearance from federal officials. But that doesn't mean she can't make a mistake or be honest about it, she said.

"We all make mistakes," she said. "A real leader admits them and takes responsibility. And sadly apparently I was the only one that chose to do so."

“I love this city," McCowan said. "I love who we are and what we stand for. I do not wish to address the racist undertones permeating public discourse these last weeks and months. But I will say that I have an important voice and perspective. I have every right to serve as Mayor Pro Tem and my years working in government and these past six months on council amply qualify me to serve in this role at this time."

"I will not allow the disgusting rhetoric of some diminish me or the value my voice adds to our community or those I represent," she said. "I hope that the leadership and professionalism I've shown as council member and now Mayor Pro Tem, have helped you all to see that I should continue in this role at this time."

Himmelrich responded to McCowan's comments, describing how important her voice has been for the community, representing people who are traditionally underrepresented.

"In the very short time that Kristin's already served as Mayor Pro Tem, she's been engaged, she's been insightful and she's been amazingly helpful to me in my efforts as mayor, to unite the council and move the city in a positive direction," Himmelrich said.

"I think that Kristin also brings important diversity to the Mayor Pro Tem position," Himmelrich said. "She's a young working mom with two children in school. She's Black and she is sharing an experience with many of the predominant number of people in this town who are trying to raise children, work and still give back to their community. And having done it myself, I can tell you it's quite a challenge, but more than either of those things, I believe Kristin has demonstrated, for everyone to see, that she is a person of strong character, and she has done it here tonight."

Following the vote, McCowan reiterated how she plans to continue supporting the Mayor.

“And I will be there to support her all the way,” McCowan said. “Thank you to all of you, and for your support tonight.”

Burt Champagne of Santa Monicans for Democracy, called into the meeting to endorse Himmelrich, describing why the city needs her right now.

“She’s pro-resident, pro-police reform, and pro-democracy," Champagne said. "She’s the right person to lead us at this time.”

Councilmember Oscar de la Torre suggested members share or split the time in office, seeking to change the councilmembers' terms to one-year terms. However, other councilmembers declined, opting to keep the term length for two years.

“I think it’s a two-year job and I waited six years,” Himmelrich said.

Himmelrich mentioned that the role has caused her to cut back time with her day job, where she serves with Western Poverty and Law Center and that she planned to commit to the job for two years. She joined Western Center in 2012 as Special Counsel, with an emphasis in litigation for housing, health and access to justice issues, according to the organization's website.

De la Torre argued that he should represent the Latino community and share the Mayor Pro Tem role with McCowan.

“The Latino community has waited for 300 years for us to get the first Latino Mayor ever," de la Torre said. "And I’m thinking, how many white women have served as mayor?”

More than 32,000 people voted for McCowan as Mayor Pro Tem in the November election. She ran on the ballot unopposed.

Councilmember Phil Brock also voiced support for McCowan.

“I’ve known members of your family now, for almost 50 years," Brock said. "And I respect and love your family.”

“I am here to work with everyone, Brock said. "I have nowhere else to go. I’m staying in Santa Monica."

Angela Scott, a community activist, Santa Monica Pico-area resident and education activist, voiced her support for McCowan.

"This has been a lively discussion and I just wanted to contribute to this dialogue we’re having," Scott said. "I strongly support the continued leadership of both Mayor Sue Himmelrich and Mayor Pro Tem Kristin McCowan."

Scott applauded McCownan’s transparency and advocated for more leaders to be honest among the people they represent.

"In this time when transparency and accountability are part of our optimal concerns right now, self-reporting is a true example of strong character," Scott said. "All elected officials should be transparent and be more accountable for all of their actions. Both Mayor Himmelrich and Mayor Pro Tem McCowan demonstrate those strong qualities that we need in leadership."

Black Agenda member Erica Lesley shared why representation matters, especially in Santa Monica.

“I’ve waited, for a very long time, for someone that looked like me, someone that was a mother like me, someone that was just involved and loved our community as much as I do, the representation of what we go through as a Black woman," Lesley said. "There is so much racism going on right now it would be heinous and cruel to undo what has already been undone.”

Barry Snell, College Member and member for Downtown Santa Monica. Has been involved for the past 16 years

"This is not about Kristin’s ability as a councilmember to serve as Mayor Pro Tem," Snell said. "But it is about her integrity, about her quest for wanting to do the right thing. And I think we should all be really grateful for her statement, which was heartfelt."

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