By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Residents of Pacific Palisades have thrown their hats into the ring to represent the community in various area and at-large representative seats within the Pacific Palisades Community Council.
Voting will begin on September 4 and end September 18. Results will then be calculated by the PPCC Election Committee. Winners will be announced shortly after, with results reported at the September 24 PPCC meeting.
Residents who live in a particular area may vote for an area representative candidate. Residents, property owners and business operators in all areas of the Palisades may vote for the at-large representative.
The three contested seats are Areas 4, 6 and 7. Uncontested seats are Areas 1, 2, 3 and 5, as well as the at-large seat. No one is running in Area 8, though the position may be filled in the alternate representative application process, which begins in September.
Area 1
Joanna Spak is running to represent Area 1 unopposed. Spak has lived in the Palisades for nearly 60 years.
“While I am now retired, I was fortunate to have spent a 30-plus-year career at Disney in finance and operations, where I had a strong track record of success in planning, strategy and collaboration,” Spak wrote in her statement.
She has represented the area for the past two years on the PPCC Board, during which time, she has “actively reached out to local HOAs and residents, both to keep them informed and to work with them on a variety of issues, including fire safety, road repair, and land use/development.”
Area 2
Since being elected two years ago as the Area 2 representative, Steve Cron has worked closely with the Los Angeles Fire Department to make the Highlands less vulnerable to wildfires, including at a community event at Calvary Church and regular meetings with fire department chiefs.
“I’ve met regularly with numerous members of our community, and have accumulated a large email list of Highlands residents so that I can better communicate with them and address their needs,” Cron wrote. “I have organized biannual community trash collection days in the canyon, which have been well-attended by Highlands residents.”
Cron explained that he has “always opposed the eldercare project on Palisades Drive” and plans to continue to “help fight against this facility.”
Area 3
A retired information systems manager for the city of Los Angeles, Haldis Toppel, the current president of MKPOA, has lived in Marquez Knolls for 45 years. Toppel also served as president of the Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club for two years, where she accomplished “the major renovation of the clubhouse and introduced the business model which made the clubhouse financially self-sufficient.”
She is a past board member of PPCC and currently volunteers with Theatre Palisades.
“I have authored e-cam, the community service email notices about fire, crime, lost dogs and other noteworthy events,” Toppel explained. “Over the last decade I have used my administrative, communication and organizational skills to improve and protect the quality of life for the residents of Pacific Palisades and those of Area 3 specifically, with care, thoughtfulness and dedication, and am eager to continue to do so.”
Area 4
Michael Minky
Born and raised in Hollywood, Michael Minky has lived in Area 4 for 20 years as a homeowner in both Tahitian Terrace and Palisades Bowl.
“As a self-employed CPA, now retired, my office was in the Village for many years,” Minky explained in the statement. “I am active in the California Coastal Trail Association (Coastwalk), a nonprofit advocating for coastal public access and the completion of the CCT from Oregon to Mexico.”
Minky explained that he believes that it is important to have an area representative of the PPCC from the mobile home parks to provide a voice for the lower income community, fighting to maintain open spaces.
Karen Ridgley
Karen Ridgley has lived in El Medio Bluffs since 1976 and said that she knows “this community and its issues well.”
“I raised three sons in the Palisades, all of whom attended our local public schools,” Ridgley explained. “I support many community organizations like Palisades Beautiful [and] PPTFH, and support preserving and enhancing our parks and common areas.”
Ridgley has attended PPCC meetings over the years and has made presentations on behalf of Area 4 residents on issues, including local crime, curfew enforcement at the Asilomar cul de sac and preserving Temescal Canyon Park against relocating a set of dumpsters below the Palisades Charter High School campus.
Area 5
Sue Kohl has been the Area 5 representative for the past several years.
“During that time, there have been so many changes in our neighborhood: new neighbors; new building restrictions and guidelines; new liquor licenses; new permit parking areas; a new Village center, to name a few,” Kohl wrote. “There have been challenges and controversies, but I believe we have come through all in a friendly, cooperative way.”
Kohl has maintained an email distribution list of about 350 families in order to send out community updates, police reports and meeting notices. She has lived in the Alphabet Streets for 26 years.
Area 6
Matthew Quiat
Matthew Quiat has called Pacific Palisades home for the past year.
“I grew up in a small town with similar values, which is what attracted my wife-to-be, a native Palisadian, and I back to the Palisades,” Quiat explained.
His goal, according to the candidate statement, is to address the concerns and needs of Area 6 residents and all Palisadians. A real estate developer with a master’s degree from NYU, Quiat has experience in land-use planning and project management.
“I will ensure the upcoming Pacific Palisades Community Plan update allows our neighborhood to grow in a thoughtful and productive way that enhances our shared quality of life,” Quiat shared. “Along with guiding these zoning discussions, my focus will also be on improving public safety by guaranteeing our emergency responders have the training and equipment needed and preparing the Palisades for a post-COVID environment.”
Karyn Weber
Karyn Weber has lived in the Huntington Palisades with her husband Rob and two children since 2001. In the past, Weber has represented Area 6 as the alternate representative on PPCC.
“In addition, I served as the secretary on the executive committee,” Weber added in the candidate statement. “I also was a member of the Pacific Palisades Residents Association and served on the PPRA as an alternate representative of that organization.”
Weber said that she strives to keep the small town feel of the neighborhood, while improving certain aspects, including Palisades Recreation Center, Pacific Palisades Farmers Market, and infrastructure like streets, parks and hiking trails.
Area 7
Jenny Li
A native Angeleno, Jenny Li has lived in Santa Monica Canyon for eight years with her husband and daughter, with an additional 15 years in the Palisades.
“My qualifications are diverse: I have been a law firm partner and an executive in a large entertainment company,” Li explained. “I have volunteered at local organizations, including the California Women’s Law Center, Chrysalis, Upward Bound House and in school parent associations. This past year, I have served on the Board of the Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association.”
Li shared that she loves this community and cares about preserving the unique character of the canyon, including its history, natural beauty, the stairs, tunnels and tree-lined streets.
“As density increases, we must preserve pedestrian and bike safety, mitigate traffic, and protect our open spaces,” Li said. “But we also need to create the infrastructure necessary for the 21st century. And we all must end homelessness in our community and our city.”
Rick McGeagh
Rick McGeagh shared that he has been “blessed to live and raise” his family in the Will Rogers Park area for more than 22 years.
“My involvement in the Pacific Palisades community includes: (1) serving on the PPCC as the Recreation Representative, alternating annually between the Primary and Alternate (12 years); (2) serving on the Pacific Palisades Baseball Association Board (15 years); and (3) serving on the Palisades Park Advisory Board (5 years),” McGeagh shared.
His greatest concern for Area 7, according to the candidate statement, is the threat of wildfires. After the Getty fire, McGeagh campaigned to clear the overgrown brush along the north side of Sunset between Will Rogers State Park Road and Evans Road, which was completed on August 1.
At-large
Alan Goldsmith has three years of experience as representative or alternate representative of the Highlands. He is currently serving as the at-large representative.
Goldsmith’s goals for the next term include improving parks and urban forest, less pollution and overdevelopment, homeless management, and more.
He hopes to improve policy and agency functions, as well as response time for essential services. Goldsmith plans to promote citizen engagement with LAFD for fire prevention/emergency preparedness.
PPCC will host a forum on Thursday, August 27, starting at 5:30 p.m. to give Palisadians a chance to meet the candidates.
“Candidates for contested seats will give introductory statements; candidates for uncontested seats may also give such statements,” a PPCC representative explained ahead of the forum. “Q&A will take place, with questions first asked of the contested candidates by the Election Committee, and then questions by the audience (directed first to the contested candidates, and if time allows, then to the uncontested candidates).”
For full candidate statements, area boundaries and meeting log-in information, visit pacpalicc.org.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story included Jason Sklar as a candidate for Area 6, who has since pulled out of the race.
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