The Pacific Palisades Community Council broke a new record for the most ballots returned in an election since the autonomous body formed in 1973, according to election results released Thursday, Sept. 11.
A total of 714 ballots labeled as legitimate counted toward the final tally, according to the council’s election records.
This equaled a 7.5 percent return rate on about 10,000 ballots mailed out to various households in the Palisades, said Jennifer Malaret, community council secretary.
Malaret said the other highest election count she could remember in her five years with the organization was less than 250 ballots. That’s in comparison to less than 50 ballots cast in some past elections.
Finding people willing to donate their time is difficult, said council president Chris Spitz.
Historically, the local body has struggled to increase public participation and engagement, Spitz said, adding that since taking over as president she has increased efforts to get more Palisadians involved, such as utilizing social media and operating a stand at the Farmer’s Market.
Besides the community council’s area representatives, members also include delegates from other organizations, such as the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce and Palisades PRIDE among others.
The election replaced three incumbents. Harry Sondheim and Jack Allen, who have served the council for more than 30 years combined, and Jim Rea, a realtor with Sotheby’s International Realty, who served for four years.
With only one vote apart, Rick Mills, former head of the Design Review Board, replaced Sondheim as the representative for the north and south side of Sunset Boulevard from east of Bienveneda to Temescal Canyon Road, known as Area 4.
Allen finished third in his area with only 34 general election votes, losing his seat to another relative newcomer to council politics, Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices realtor Sue Kohl who received 68 votes. She will be representing Area 5, which includes the Alphabet Streets and the north side of Sunset from Temescal Canyon to Rivas Canyon Road.
With 154 votes, first-time council candidate Greg Sinaiko garnered more support than any other candidate in the election.
Many believe this was because of heavy support from neighbors of the Marquez Knolls, including the former vice president of the community council Haldis Toppel.
Toppel had been next in line to be president as per council tradition. Instead, she was contested and defeated for the position by Barbara Kohn, who is now serving as president emeritus.
As the Area 3 representative, Sinaiko will represent the Marquez Knolls area, the north and south sides of Sunset from Palisades Drive to Bienveneda and the Bel-Air Bay Club area.
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