The first of two elections that will dramatically transform the makeup of the West Hollywood City Council ended tonight with Mayor John D’Amico in first place followed by Lauren Meister.
D’Amico took 1,892, or 18 percent, of the votes cast. Meister was close behind with 1,750, or 17 percent of the votes. What remains uncertain is who will win the third open seat on the Council. Challenger Lindsey Horvath won 1,692 votes (16 percent), tied closely with Councilmember John Heilman, who won 1,664 votes (16 percent). Joe Guardarrama was fifth with 1,525 votes (14 percent).
There are 700 provisional ballots and 80 mail-in ballots yet to be counted, with additional mail-in ballots possibly arriving in the next few days. Provisional ballots are those cast by voters at other than their assigned polling places. They must be validated by checking the names of the voters against registration records before they can be counted. It is highly unlikely that the as-yet-uncounted ballots will affect D’Amico and Meister’s position in the race, given that they probably will be spread across the 12 candidates in roughly the same proportion as the votes already counted. They may, however, change tonight’s ranking of the next three candidates. The City Clerk is expected to have those results by Friday.
Among the remaining seven challengers Larry Block won eight percent of the votes, followed by James “Duke” Mason, Matt Ralston and Christopher Landavazo, each with three percent. Tristan Schukraft received two percent of the votes. Brian Funnagan and John Allendorfer each received one percent.
The re-election of D’Amico, who first ran for office in 2011, and of Meister mean a major change on a five-member City Council largely dominated by incumbents since the city was incorporated in 1984. That change became possible with the decision by Abbe Land, on the Council for 18 years, to not run for re-election so that she could focus on her job as CEO of the Trevor Project, and the election last year of Jeffrey Prang, also on the Council for 18 years, as L.A. County Assessor. Prang’s Council seat will be filled in a special election on June 2.
The losing candidates in today’s election have until the end of the day on Friday to register for the June 2 election. Two people — Heidi Shink and Cole Ettman — have already declared their candidacies for that election. Heilman said tonight that he is confident that he will win today’s election when the final ballots are counted and that he will not run in the June race.
Horvath spoke to the tension remaining as additional votes are counted. “I am very proud of the positive, issue-driven campaign I ran, and clearly my message resonated with the voters. While as of Tuesday night’s vote count, I am in third place, it is too early to declare victory,” she said. “With hundreds of ballots outstanding, and not a huge gap between those of us in the top four positions, it is clear to me that anything could happen after the remaining votes are counted. At this point, I would like to congratulate all of the candidates on their efforts, but I know it is going to be a very long week for every one of us.”
The election of D’Amico and Meister may mean changes in the pace of development in West Hollywood. D’Amico has decried what he calls a “bigger, faster, louder” approach to growth. Meister campaigned against what she describes as “over development that destroys our unique way of life.” Because of their opposition to the pace of development, the majority of campaign donations from real estate developers went to Guardarrama, Heilman and Horvath. According to calculations by WEHOville, at least 36 percent of more than $622,000 in donations as of Feb. 17 had come from real estate interests, with most of them headquartered outside West Hollywood.
Tonight’s election results are likely to mean significant changes in the relationships of the Council members. It’s long been known that Heilman and D’Amico do not like one another. D’Amico endorsed Meister, who is likely to be an ally on development issues. However John Duran, the only Council member not up for re-election, dislikes Meister. “I do believe that Lauren Meister would be terrible for the future of the city,” he said in an interview with WEHOville. “She is myopic in her thinking and difficult to work with.” Duran’s relationship with D’Amico, with whom he once was close, now is fraught because of D’Amico’s endorsement of Meister and Duran’s endorsement of Heilman. An independent expenditure committee that Duran helped organize did not promote D’Amico’s candidacy because of the Meister endorsement.
The newly elected Council members will be sworn-in at the next regular Council meeting, which will take place on March 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Council Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. south of Santa Monica.
mike dunn, memory is a very subjective thing. 2014 was the hottest year on record in our state and I believe 2013 is close. but more importantly you assume that everyone’s apartment is like yours and therefore everyone can just get by with a fan. many buildings (like mine) have no insulation and full sun exposure, making the inside temperature much higher than outside. good luck with a fan. children, pets and elderly are not safe in such places. i never asked my landlord to provide AC but I think it would be a good policy for the city, at… Read more »
Do you realize how complicated it would be attempting to make one owner provide a/c to all their tenants but not another owner. And with rent control the owner could not pass along the increased electric bill in excess of the permissible rent increase each year and still recover other expenses. In fact I can see apartment owners prohibiting tenants from installing window a/c units unless said tenant had a separate electric meter as opposed to a master meter for the entire building. Concerning your remark about the safety of fans. I’m elderly, 70, and have a dog. We my… Read more »
I have to agree with DK. The landlord/tenant relationship in Weho is awful and little has been done to correct it. You cant find a 1bed in this town under $1400. And the ones at the $1400 mark are disgusting. They nickel and dime everyone. Refrigerators aren’t included in rentals anymore. They charge “extra” for a parking spot. They rent out garages or storage space to other people so than can collect another $200+. Thus, this creates more issues for parking. My old building was built in 1948. The original owner died when she was in her mid 80s. The… Read more »
I’m a home owner but have lived in numerous apartments before buying. Only one apartment came with a refrigerator, the rest I had to provide. A/C is not a necessity, it’s a luxury. I grew up in Los Angeles and never enjoyed a/c until I lived here. There were no air conditioned schools, buses, etc. Those that complain are just spoiled. If you really need a/c go out and buy one. Then you will see what a decent one costs. You want low rent but also every modern convenience. Sorry, the apartment building owners need to make a profit. They… Read more »
Climate change, which is real, has sent numerous heatwaves that didn’t exist years ago rolling into the Los Angeles basin in the last few years. What was going on when Mike Dunn was growing up in pre-drought Los Angeles is irrelevant. During a heatwave that sends temperatures soaring into the 90s — yes, air conditioning is a basic necessity. There was once no air conditioned schools, buses, etc — so what? There was once no cure for polio and there was once no gay marriage. Why should any generation applaud staying stuck permanently in the past? Slumloards who want their… Read more »
DK I don’t know where you grew up but as I stated previously I grew in Los Angeles. We may have climate change but the past summers have been cooler than they were in my childhood. 90 degrees is nothing. I remember weeks that topped 100 degrees every summer. I rarely use my a/c, I prefer just to turn on a fan when it gets hot. A decent a/c unit does not cost $150.00. Try about $400 to $500 installed. Added to that what other city requires the re-painting of apartments every five years? How about replacing all the carpeting… Read more »
I don’t care if you grew up in 200 degree whether, that does not mean it’s okay for people to live in sweltering apartments because of how you grew up. Temperatures inside non-air conditioned upper units can reach 100 degrees when temperatures outside are 90 degrees. 90 degree is hot everywhere except your own excuse-making imagination. Again, everyone else’s life does not revolve around you, what you do, and how you grew up. There was also no gay marriage when you grew up — that means people today should accept marriage inequality? The a/c unit that cools my apartment cost… Read more »
You can whin all you want but it’s not going to change anything. 90 degrees is a delighful day. I would rather be in 90 degree wheither than freezing my butt off somewhere else. Now if you were to complain about the lack of heat I would agree with you. It’s my understanding that landlords are required to replace carpet with the same grade of carpet that is currently in the unit. Laminated floors tend to make the unit colder in the winter and some may think lamanated floors are a lower type floor covering than is currently in the… Read more »
No, what’s not going to change anything is keeping quiet about that which is unacceptable — speaking up and working for change is what changes things. 90 degree heat is sweltering to any normal person. There is such a thing as an average temperature — the choice is not merely between two extremes, 90 degrees and freezing, except in the minds of people who see the world as black v. white. Hardwood laminate floors do not need to be replaced every five years, they take wear better. So that’s false. Hardwood laminate floors are universally recognized as a highly quality… Read more »
You must be miserable during these delightful warm days in Southern California. I can hardly wait for the summer when the temperature will soar above 100 degrees. But not to fret. I’ll just go for a wonderful drive each day with the top down in my convertible and enjoy life. Palm Springs will be jumping with everyone out partying next to their hotel pools. And I can think of you and your miserable life grasping on to your cheap A/C unit for fear that even the tinniest drop of sweat may emerge from your forehead. The West Hollywood law states… Read more »
You must be miserable making up nonsense about people you’ve never met to justify your right-wing conservative talking points. Sorry to burst your bitter, delusional bubble, but I’mas perfectly comfortable in my air conditioned apartment as I am hanging out at pool parties in the Hollywood Hills on weekends and giving back to my community by working to change it for the better, like others of my kind, tolerant generation whose activism has improved the lives of all — like, for example, electing the first President who openly supports marriage equality — unlike selfish, greedy baby boomers who left to… Read more »
You just don’t get it. When did A/C go from being a luxury to a right as the me, me,me generation demand? But since you demand to talk about how bad Conservatives are let’s get the facts straight. It’s the liberals who have killed jobs with their never ending demand for more taxes and regulations. It’s the liberals who have signed regressive import treaties that hurt U.S. businesses and help those countries that export goods to the U.S. A huge private jobs creating project has been held up by the Democrats. It’s all to apparent that Democrats believe that he… Read more »
No, you just don’t get it. A/Cs stopped being a “luxury” about the time they became cheap and affordable — do you know the definition of the world “luxury”? Obviously not. The “me me me” are the selfish, greedy baby boomers who will be the first generation in this nation’s history to leave its children and grandchildren with less wealth. And since you like to spew right wing Faux News garbage let’s get the real facts straight, not dishonest Rush Limbaugh talking points passed off as facts: Fact: more jobs have been created under Democratic presidents than Republican ones, because… Read more »
DK – Have you people ever lived in any other city? I come here and it feels like I’ve entered some alternative parallel universe. This progressive, financially sound, community-service and citizen oriented government is the best I ever hope to live in. I don’t get the anti-WeHo sentiment that pervades so many of the posters here. Forgive me for giving credit to long time, experienced officials who obviously created and nurtured this. I fear the D’AMico/Meister axis potentially wreak major havoc on what is great about the city. I don’t trust them.
John Heilman did not believe in term limits & fought vehemently against Measure C. His constant statement when asked about term limits was, “We already have term limits. They’re called elections.” Seems John has changed his mind & now he doesn’t believe in elections either. He must not again be allowed to manipulate the system to suit his personal agenda. The voters have had their say & they have evicted a squatter from City Hall.
Chris — have you ever lived in another city? Talk about a parallel universe. I’ve lived in Hermosa Beach — a City whose council cared enough to designate more than half of the City’s meters as being free for residents and whose city parking pass can be used anywhere in the city because Hermosa’s city council doesn’t believe a resident should ever be ticketed for parking in their own city. Heilman has had 30 years to implement something similar for West Hollywood residents. Did he? Nope. I stayed for a time with my former boss, who lives on Palm Drive… Read more »
The reason we have Parking Permits is most residential neighborhoods are backed up against night clubs and businesses. Many apartment buildings don’t have sufficient parking to accommodate their tenants so parking on the street is their only option. Even with Permit Parking one has to look for a parking space on the street I live on although every apartment building and Condo’s have parking provided. Landlords are entitled to a fair return on their investment. Even without a mortgage there is normal maintenance plus increases in property taxes each year. We have over a $3000 electric bill each month plus… Read more »
It’s not accurate that most people in WeHo sleep in spitting distance of a nightclub, certainly not ones operating on a large enough scale to inconvenience most people who live here in terms of parking. Most lacking parking for their patrons are clustered west of Palm Drive, with a few dotting the rest of the city. What nightclubs are near La Brea/Santa Monica? What nightclubs are there or spate of businesses are there along the Fountain corridor? Beverly Hills manages to operate a thriving business district bordered by SMB to the North and Wilshire Blvd to the South with residences… Read more »
George, Heilman was younger than Horvath when he first assumed office (I believe), so what made him qualified at that point? Lindsey has done a lot more than be a “file clerk,” on her own merits. Your comment is beyond insulting to her.
My bad. I meant to say John Heilman hasn’t stolen or seduced people under him like some of his peers.
John Heilman has a great deal of education and wisdom. Miss Horvath not so much. John has done a lot of good things for the city during his tenure. He has stolen or seduced employee’s under him which says a lot considering some of his peers actions ie John Duran, Jeffrey Prang. Is he perfect, no. Nobody is. The appointment of republican Lindsay Horvath was a mistake. I voted for Joe but he did he didn’t make it to the finish line unfortunately . Sadly, we are stuck with Horvath and/or Heilman. Lindsay doesn’t deserve the opportunity, she never did.… Read more »
Say what you will about Heilman but one thing you can’t say is that he is not qualified. He is if anything over qualified. Look at he is resume. Horvath is another story. What the hell she is doing here remains a mystery? She is terribly under qualified without a doubt. If not for Heilman she would be no more than a file clerk at city hall. Nothing wrong with file clerks at all just saying she had a huge in with that appointment as council member upon Sal’s passing something Heilman maybe regretting now?
What a snobby it its statement — perfectly illustrates the elitism of the Heilman Inc. mindset. What qualifies Heilman? Him being an entrenched part of the orthodoxy, the pretend progressive corporate at all costs status quo, a carer politician permanent member of the political power ignore the voters class, the developer kickback raise fines and fees on the poor to raise my own salary academia? If that’s qualified, I’d rather be represented by any file clerk and any dude randomly grabbed from any establishment in town than by six Heilmans. The concept of citizen government complexty escapes these people. Which… Read more »
Randy, especially with politicians it matters not what they say, only what they do. Despite what he says he will run with big developer support and win. So all the swan songs have been premature.
Chris, no worries, I will not sue you.
Rudolf -I don’t include you among them, but many of the anti-Heilman types continue to be classless and bad losers. As I’ve said before, their politics may be different, but too many of the posters here are little different than the Tea Partiers and how they react to Obama. I disagree w/ Meister and have major problems with her narrow agenda, but I’ve never made it personal and respect her in many ways. So don’t compare me to them. I have no special affinity for Heilman, all I know is that this is a great city to live in, getting… Read more »
Touché
@ Manny, funny I feel the same way about reading your comments