PPCC Area, At-Large Election Voting Set to Close

Alternate Selection Process Begins

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Local residents, property owners and business operators are able to vote in the Pacific Palisades Community Council area and at-large election through Friday, September 2, at 9 p.m.

The Palisades is split into eight neighborhoods in a map created by PPCC, each represented by one board member. There is also one position for an at-large representative. All who are elected will serve a two-year term on the board.

“Area and at-large representatives will be the voice of their constituents, bring issues to the PPCC, learn first-hand about policy and land-use topics affecting the Palisades, and vote on matters of communitywide interest,” according to a statement shared by PPCC.

Incumbents are running in Area 2 (Steve Cron), 3 (Haldis Toppel), 4 (Karen Ridgley) and 8 (Reza Akef). New candidates running include Murray Levy in Area 1, Reza Ronaghi in Area 4, Kimberly Bloom for Area 5, Cindy Simon in Area 6, Julie Silliman in Area 7 and Chris Spitz for at-large representative. One seat will have a contested election, which is Area 4.

Voting will be done through online ballots available by clicking the red “vote” button on the PPCC website: pacpalicc.org. There will be no paper ballots this election.

“All individuals at least 18 years old as of September 2, 2022, who reside in Pacific Palisades are eligible to vote for an area representative in the area in which they reside and for the at-large representative,” according to PPCC. “Individuals at least 18 years old as of September 2, 2022, who do not reside in, but who own real property in or operate a business located in Pacific Palisades, are eligible to vote only for the at-large representative.”

In addition to the area and at-large election, the process for selecting alternates for each seat is underway. This will be led by the 2022 Committee of the Three Chairs, including Committee Chair David Card, Steve Boyers (PPCC chair 2006-08) and Barbara Kohn (PPCC chair 2012-14).

“The function of this committee is to nominate alternate area and at-large representatives,” according to information shared by the community council. “The committee will present its nominees to the full board at the first meeting in October, for affirmation and appointment. We encourage everyone who is interested in community service and in the work of the PPCC to apply for a first or second alternate role to the primary area rep for their residential area.”

Those who are interested in applying are invited to email a letter to info@pacpalicc.org, which states the area in which the applicant resides (including address), number of years as a resident (both in the Palisades and in the specific area for which applying as an alternate) and a statement of priorities, including “positions on issues the applicant believes are of importance to the community or to the candidate’s area.”

The selection process will take place throughout September, including consulting the primary representative.

“The committee will consider all applicants and conduct interviews where necessary,” a statement from PPCC concluded. “We look forward to receiving your application.”