Opening Statements From 5 City Council Candidates
Written by 991KBU on August 31, 2018
The first public forum between the five Malibu residents seeking to city council seats this fall went off last night … at the Red Ladder art gallery at the Civic Center.
About 40 people in attendance.
The candidates were allowed to introduce themselves … and then say what their first thoughts were.
Alphabetically … Olivia Damavandi … stressing her civic experience worjking at city hall and as a reporter in Malibu.
NEWSCART 77806 O DAMAVANDI :21
“If theres one thing that you learn from me tonight that remember and take away from me when you go home is the following: it is a right, not a privilege, for Malibu residents to feel that their city has their back, and will act in their best interest.
Next Karen Farrer … a longtime school activist … president of AMPS … which is the force behind the school district split from Santa Monica.
NEWSCART 77807 FARRER INTRO :15
“I want to make sure, I’m not a one issue candidate.
“The School District is not run by the city.
“But local control is the one thing that we can fight for.
“We don’t have here what we have here, if we had been passive.
“We would not be a city if we had been passive.”
Next Jim Palmer … highlighting his experience with numbers as an accountant and businessman.
NEWSCART 77809 JIM PALMER INTRO :11
“I want to listen to everybody’s opinions, I want to do the right thing, and again, I think the most important thing is to preserve the quality of life that we have here in Malibu.”
Next … Mikke Pierson … who’s lived in malibu his entire life and emphasized his long experience at City Hall.
NEWSCART 77805 MIKKE PIERSON INTRO :15
“I spent the last 6 years as a planning comm and as a public works commissioner before that.
And if elected … I would be the only city council person with any land use experience on the city council.”
Next … Lance Simmons … an author and political worker in other cities.
NEWSCART 77808 LANCE SIMMONS INTRO :19
“I’ve only physically lived in Malibu for three years, but in spirit I’ve lived here forever.
“And moving here was like coming home.
“I’ve spent over 4 decades in public policy and governmental positions.”
The candidates debate was scheduled for two hours at the red ladder gallery in central Malibu.
We will have the candidates discussing their number one goals …. on the KBUU News Monday.
