By Ken Mason

On Wednesday, October 4, the Faculty Association held its second interview of candidates for the SMC Board of Trustees. The Association interviewed only those who were not available or who had not filed their candidacy in time for the July interviews, and only one of those interviewed on Wednesday, Margaret Quinones, were endorsed by Santa Monica Renters Rights (SMRR), a major political coalition  in the city. Those interviewed included Margaret Quinones, Robert Klepa, Margaret Carroll and Patrick McGuire. Phil Hendricks of CSEA volunteered as the facilitator and questions fielded by the candidates were the same questions given to the Joe Weichman, Patrick Nichelson and Annette Shamey in July.

After the interviews the Political Action Committee met to consider endorsements and decided to recommend endorsements of  all of the candidates except incumbents Patrick Nichelson and Annette Shamey who  did not ask for endorsements or provide campaign literature. The committee also recommended the Association pass a resolution to encourage members to vote no on Proposition KK (the phony living wage), and to endorse Sheila Kuehl for State Senate and Fran Pavley for State Assembly.

The next day, Thursday, October 5, the Political Action Committee presented its recommendations to the Faculty Association Representative Assembly. The body unanimously approved its recommendations on Prop KK, Kuehl and Pavley.

The Political Action Committee privately interviewed all Trustee candidates who would speak with us.  It also conducted private interviews of all candidates.  Based upon thouse interviews, the Political Action Committee recommended the Assembly vote to endorse all of the non-encumbent candidates: Margaret Carroll, Robert Klepa, Patrick McGuire, Margaret Quinones and Joe Weichman.

After a lengthy discussion, the Assembly eventually moved to endorse Robert Klepa and Margaret Quinones. The Political Action Committee will make recommendations to provide financial support to the endorsed candidates at the next Representative Assembly meeting  scheduled for October 19.