Oliver, Thomas, Heilman, Savage
Martin, Meister, Byers
Wright, Duran, Cockeram, Adolphson, Bradford, Kopplin
The nomination period closes Aug. 12. But if any incumbent does not file to run for re-election the nomination period will extend for an additional five days through Aug. 17.
As of 5PM Friday, July 28, a total of 13 candidates met with City Clerk Melissa Crowder and pulled nomination papers, as well as the looseleaf binder that includes all other materials outlining the deadlines and rules for submitting a ballot statement.
Councilmembers Lindsey Horvath and John D’Amico are not expected to pull nomination papers by Aug. 12, which would extend the nomination period through Aug. 17.
The candidates who have pulled nomination papers include Mayor Lauren Meister and former Councilmembers John Heilman and John Duran. Both were defeated in 2020 and have one term available to them under the term limit rules. If Meister, Heilman and Duran win a seat in this November’s election, all three would term out in 2026 and leave three open seats.
Former Councilmember Steve Martin has also announced that he will seek a seat on the City Council again this year. Martin served on the City Council in 1994-2002 and lost three subsequent bids to regain a seat on the Council dais.
In addition to the above four, nine other candidates have pulled nomination papers to date. They include:
- Planning Commissioner Marquita Thomas,
- Human Services Commissioner Chelsea Byers,
- Public Safety Commissioner Robert Oliver, and
- LGBTQ+ Advisory Boardmember Zekiah Wright.
Ben Savage, the “Boy Meets World” star, has also pulled papers. Savage is a 17-year resident of West Hollywood and is straight and engaged. This is Savage’s first campaign for public office.
Also pulling nomination papers are
- Sarah Adolphson,
- Dean Bradford,
- Jordan Cockeram
- Mike Kopplin.
It requires just 20 verified signatures of West Hollywood residents to become a candidate for City Council. If you would like to enter the race email City Clerk Melissa Crowder at mcrowder@weho.org You will get a friendly voice who will help you through the process.
I want to see candidates who commit to the nuts and bolts of sound municipal governance and stop with the performative kumbaya and pontificating about what is acceptable First Amendment behavior to their small minds that are largely void of comprehension on basic civics. I want to see candidates who don’t dismiss the legitimate civic engagement that happens in these pages or in direct emails that are ignored or judged with provincial naivete. I want to see big thinkers like most of the people who built this city over the last couple of decades before it was hijacked by a… Read more »
yes, Yes, YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We cannot go backwards hence No Heilman and No Duran. These 2 guys are the other extreme of what we are currently experiencing. Yes to Meister and Yes to Martin. My 3rd choice is undecided.
Heilman & Duran failed to chart a smart long range course. Even though Martin is a bit of a wobbler, he might be considered if he chose to cut the sarcasm and got down to serious essentials. Intelligent but not necessarily smart in his delivery
I’m sorry., but I’m voting Meister, Martin and one of the Johns. Only way or its more Horvath, Erickson & Shyne thinking. And I use the term “thinking” lightly.
Let’s get into: A. What special qualifications these folks have and B. How they can be directly applied to making West Hollywood a more holistic city. Specific mini plans please for improvement without the Gender Identity/Social Justice fabricated dialogue. “Community Organizers Not Needed or Wanted”!
Meister, Martin and undecided on the third. I want strong constituency representation + lengthy residence credentials in Weho. I don’t want sexual baggage, previous shenanigans nor do I want do overs. I do want a council that will understand there is clean up to be done that will be left over from the sitting council and a council that will work with transparency and put aside their victimhood and personal agenda(s).
Voting for Meister, Heilman, and Martin. We need solid liberal candidates who have actually lived in WeHo for a long time and who listen to their constituency.
I could vote that block.
Byers, Wright and Oliver are in the five-minute crowd. Residency and tenure of residency matters. How long have Byers and Wright been residents of West Hollywood. Where was Oliver registered to vote just two years ago? Why do they want to use West Hollywood as a springboard to other offices? Why should we trust their naked political ambitions? Haven’t we had enough of that with Lindsey Horvath and her appointee to the Public Safety Commission who wreaked havoc on this city and is now skipping town to return to Oxford? No more carpetbaggers. I want people who have lived the… Read more »
Alan, I agree with almost everything you say. Except let’s be real. About Horvath. She’s been on the council for, how long? Eight years? After her appointment by the council when Guarriello died? She would term out in four years, regardless. That was 2009. My point is, Lindsey’s not just using her position as a “springboard.” A decade of service does not qualify as such. Trust me, I’m not a fan, and she does not have my vote, and I’m glad she’s leaving the Council. And I hope she loses the supervisor race. I’m very curious to know your top… Read more »
I have two in definite yes column, and three in the very hard no way column.
Obviously, that is your personal choice, and you don’t need to share it with me, or anyone else. I was just curious.
Meister, Heilman, & Marin. 👍 although heilman gave us Erickson.👎
One needs to count to 3. Heilman may back Erickson, his pet so consider Heilman, Erickson and Shyne leaving Meister and Martin out of the picture. Hard to depend on the undependable Heilman.
Why does one candidate get such a big picture. Playing favorites already Wehoville?
Don’t worry. He made sure to say he was straight. (Not sure why). So that should cancel out the bigger picture.
Manny, please settle down.
Meister, Heilman and/or Martin and/or Duran. All the rest is just more of the same and we can’t afford to elect those people. We need to change the majority on the counsel to sane, more centrist individuals. The current council has managed to pretty much destroy a city that took 30 years to build. Vote wisely.
Let’s just save everyone some time and energy and let Zekiah Wright have it. They’re from D.C., talks about “coalitions” and everyone is going just vote for them anyway.
The 20 signature requirement is absolutely ridiculous. It should be at least 100. As we discussed, Larry, I could get 20 signatures from the gym bar patio.
I just wish we could nominate a non-binary, trans, disabled, person of color that coincidentally is color blind with 79 other adversities than anyone else, and identifies as a person with the capacity for milk production. They’d have my vote.
Or a straight white male with a concealed weapons permit who salutes the flag and doesn’t remove God when saying the Pledge of Allegiance. That would be a breath of fresh air on that wacko council.