S A N TA M O N I C A
REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY smmirror.com
December 09 - December 15, 2022 Volume CLXX, Issue 174
INSIDE National Charity League Hosts Fashion Show PAGE 9
Davis, Brock to Each Serve Term as Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete selected as mayor pro tempore By Sam Catanzaro A newly-installed Santa Monica City Council has selected Gleam Davis and Phil Brock to each serve a one-year term as Mayor. At Tuesday’s meeting, City Council selected Davis to serve a one-year term as Santa Monica’s mayor with Brock serving a one-year term for the second year of the twoyear mayoral term. Lana Negrete was selected as mayor pro tempore for two years. Davis has served on the Council since 2009 when she was appointed to fill the seat left vacant by the passing of Herb Katz and was elected to an additional two-year term in 2010. She was re-elected in 2012, 2016, and 2020 and has served as Mayor in 2019. “I’m elated to have the opportunity to serve Santa Monica once again as mayor. As the most tenured member of the Council, I hope to use my experience to lead us through the transformative process of rebuilding our organization and bringing the community together,” said Mayor Gleam Davis. “There’s a lot to do to advance our priorities around homelessness, a safe and clean community, and an equitable economic recovery. I’m ready to get to work with my colleagues who love
Santa Monica as much as I do.” Brock, serving his first term as a Councilmember after being elected in 2020, will become Mayor for the 2023-2024 term. “I love Santa Monica and I am honored to participate in leadership to this council in any way, shape or form that is requested of me. I will support Mayor Davis and Mayor Pro Tem Negrete with all my heart and I hope that all of you will as well,” Brock said at the meeting. Negrete joined the Council in 2021 when she was selected to fill the seat left vacant by Kevin McKeown. She was elected to a fouryear term in this election. Also at the meeting, City Clerk Denise Anderson-Warren swore in Councilmembers Caroline Torosis and Jesse Zwick, elected to four-year terms, and returning Councilmember Negrete, also elected to a four-year term. The selection of the mayor featured multiple rounds of voting. The process began with Councilmember Christine Parra putting forth a motion to have Brock and Oscar de la Torre each serve a term. Parra, de la Torre and Brock were elected together in 2020 as part of the anti-establishment Change slate. Parra’s motion, however, never reached the floor as three substitute motions were put forward. Torosis put forth the first substitute motion called for Davis and Parra each to serve a term each with the other serving as Mayor Pro Tem.
Photo: City of Santa Monica Councilmembers Jesse Zwick, Christine Parra, and Phil Brock; Mayor Gleam Davis; Mayor Pro Tempore Lana Negrete; and Councilmembers Caroline Torosis and Oscar de la Torre.
The motion was defeated with a 4-3 vote with Brock, Parra and de la Torre voting against it. Torosis then motioned to have Davis and Parra each serve a term as Mayor and Brock serve two years as Mayor Pro Tem, but this also failed along the same voting lines. In the third round of voting, Torosis proposed the eventual winning combination of Davis and Brock splitting the two terms and
Negrete serving as Mayor Pro Tem. Davis, Negrete, Torosis and Zwick voted for this motion, while Brock, de la Torre and Parra voted against it. Prior to the selection of Davis as Mayor, Council honored Mayor Sue Himmelrich and Mayor Pro Tem Kristin McCowan at their final meeting serving on the Council. Neither member ran for re-election.
SMMUSD to Appoint Interim Superintendent Next Week District looks to replace Dr. Ben Drati who is leaving to head up the Bellflower Unified School District By Sam Catanzaro The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) will appoint an interim superintendent next week following the resignation of Dr. Ben Drati. Drati last month announced that he would be leaving the SMMUSD to head up the Bellflower Unified School District where he will begin in January 2023. I realize this is unexpected. I want to let you know that I have thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated serving as the Superintendent of SMMUSD and will always cherish my time here,” Drati said in a press release. “Together, we have accomplished many goals and laid the groundwork for continued success. I
believe the district is poised to accomplish the mission of ensuring that all students are able to reach their full potential by providing an extraordinary educational experience for all while simultaneously closing the achievement gap.” According to the SMMUSD, due to the sensitive nature of the interview process, the Board of Education did not have prior knowledge of Dr. Drati’s decision. “While we are sad to see Dr. Drati move to Bellflower USD, it is not uncommon for superintendents to serve three to five years in a school district. Dr. Drati served SMMUSD for six years, and for that we are grateful,” said Maria Leon-Vazquez, President of the SMMUSD Board of Education and Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein, Vice-President, of the SMMUSD Board of Education in a press release. “We thank Dr. Drati for his leadership in moving SMMUSD forward during a most difficult time in world history and wish him well in his next endeavor. His departure will not diminish our dedication to our mission
to provide extraordinary achievement for all students while simultaneously closing the achievement gap.” The Board of Education will seek to appoint an interim superintendent at the December 15 board meeting. It will also create a subcommittee of the board at the December 15 meeting that will identify a process to hire a permanent superintendent. This process will be public and the opportunities for community input will be identified. The board subcommittee will bring back recommendations, and they will be presented to the full board at a future public meeting and the process will be communicated widely. There is no timeline yet for when a new superintendent will be named, according to Leon-Vazquez and TahvildaranJesswein. According to Leon-Vazquez and Tahvildaran-Jesswein, the board subcommittee will be working during winter break so that a superintendent search process update can be presented publicly at a January school board meeting.
“The direction of our school district is solid and many of the structural changes and advancements are the result of the hard work of Dr. Drati, his staff, and all SMMUSD employees. We have heard some concern that a new superintendent will disrupt or abandon some of the initiatives and successes in our district. It is important for the SMMUSD community to understand that the Board of Education will support and protect the incredible work that is happening daily at every one of our school sites,” Leon-Vazquez and Tahvildaran-Jesswein said.