West Hollywood Planning Commissioner Heidi Shink, a long-rumored candidate for City Council, has officially entered the 2015 race.
Shink has filed a “candidate intention statement” with the city, and a fundraiser for her campaign is being held at Chaz
Bono’s home on June 21. Because the event flyer lists the costs as $500 for one guest, $1,000 for a co-host (two guests) and $2,000 for a host (four guests), some residents raised questions about whether the event complied with WeHo’s campaign finance laws, which cap donations at $500/person.
According to Shink, the event complies with the law.
“The invitation states clearly that the $2,000 Host level is for 4 individual guests – meaning each $500 donation represents a single, separate donor. Likewise, the $1,000 level represents two guests, and the $500 is for one guest. Please know that the names of all of my donors will always be completely transparent and available for viewing,” Shink said via e-mail.
A longtime West Hollywood resident, Shink has served on the Human Services Commission as well as the Planning Commission.
Shink enters a crowded March 2015 race that could shake up a City Council now comprised mostly of long-tenured Council members. (The exception is John D’Amico, who was elected in 2011.) Running for re-election are Mayor John D’Amico and likely the other incumbent council members, John Heilman and Abbe Land. Incumbents John Duran and Jeffrey Prang are both running for county positions (L.A. County Supervisor and Assessor respectively), which could leave one or both of their seats open. D’Amico has already filed a candidate intention statement.
Other candidates who have filed intention statements, available on the city’s website, include: Larry Block; Mikel Gerle; Lucas John Junkin and Lauren Meister.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Mikel Gerle’s name.
NEW IDEAS & REAL SOLUTIONS? Come out, come out, wherever you are? If you are a constituent who actually votes, please take a good, hard look at the substantive ideas and accomplishments of all the Council Candidates. Let’s be honest, none of the current “new” candidates have stated or proclaimed that they stand for or on anything as far as improving our quality of life in our beloved city. Larry Block rallied for the Rainbow Flag which has always been synonymous with West Hollywood, has been displayed prominently on the median in the center of SMB for years and inked… Read more »
Sort of missing Sal Guariello
Welcome Heidi to the race. One should not criticize a person’s choice to serve their community. Each of us adds something to the debate. But with all due respect, .. it appears to be a very clever or slippery way of raising funds. I wish I was that smart or my friends were rich enough to afford to throw around those kind of dollars. I’m the working class candidate, grew up with a dad that didn’t work and send money home to help my mom. If this turns into a money race then I’m gonna need you working class people… Read more »
Her argument assumes that each of the four or two, respectively, are contributing $500. The more likely scenario is that a single person will pay the $1000 or $2000 price and invite friends. This does not seem to me to be in line with the campaign rule. Any other reading of her strategy belies the purpose for bundling seats. To follow her logic, there is no gain in becoming a “co-host” or “host” because, as she argues, each invitee pays his/her own entry. Moreover, even the names of these heightened positions suggests that the money is coming from a single… Read more »
So if I want to “donate” more than the legal limit I just show up with 3 hookers?
Ja!
The invitation also includes that the Host and Co-Host, meaning those who have donated $2,000 or $1,000 are eligible to win 4 VIP tickets to Cher’s concert in Anaheim on July 9th. Wouldn’t these tickets be considered in-kind donations? Aren’t 4 VIP valued at more than $500? Ticketmaster seems to think they are worth more than $500.
Judging by that picture she’s running for president. I am not aware of one single opinion of hers on any current issue specific to our city. Her website doesn’t exactly “waste time with substance”. I’m looking forward to her taking a stand on a real issue. I will try to withhold my judgment until then…
Wasn’t aware that Heileman and Land had announced. When did this happen?
If we are going to have replacements for our very able and qualified members, I’d prefer they have had past experience with the inner workings of the city (like John D’Amico did). I am willing to have an open mind as to her, particularly if Duran and/or Prang leave and create vacancies.
Good catch! Heilman and Land actually haven’t yet made an announcement.
I guess she’s been such a stand-out superstar on the Planning Commission (for less than a year), starting with little or no planning experience, she feels ready to jump (as predicted) into run for City Council. Makes perfect sense to me. So who’s pulling the strings here?
Planning Commission? Aren’t they the ones that approve all the new developments overrunning the East Side?