Independent Expenditures Shape West Hollywood Election

On Tuesday, March 6, West Hollywood incumbent councilmembers John Heilman, Sal Guarriello, and Abbe Land were overwhelmingly re-elected in a spirited campaign highlighting issues of growth and the loss of affordable housing stock to condominium development. Although there were 10 candidates, the three principal challengers were led by former councilmember Steve Martin who was ousted in 2002. The other two principal challengers were Heavenly Wilson and Ed Buck. The other candidates in the race were Shawn Hoffman, Steven Koller, Jim Sorkin and Patricia Nell Warren

Two independent expenditure campaigns provided the only response on the merits to the charges by the challengers that the incumbent city councilmembers were too friendly to city development, and not active enough in safeguarding affordable housing. The Coalition for More Responsible Leadership, which has previously been involved in West Hollywood, Los Angeles and other local elections, published three flyers claiming that the members of the anti-incumbent slate were “wolves in sheep’s clothing” and not truly committed to renters’ rights. The mailers also pointed out that former councilmember Martin had been a frequent recipient of large developer contributions when he served on the council.

In a first for the city, the Committee for a More Democratic California ran highly effective cable-television advertising targeting the lesbian and gay community, which is believed to make up at least one-third of the population of the City of West Hollywood. Community leaders commented on the television ad campaign favorably, noting that it pointed out that – unlike the anti-incumbent slate – the three incumbent candidates have a long history of working cooperatively with one other and with other city leaders, including councilmembers Jeffrey Prang and John Duran whose terms run through 2009.

Community activists attending the vote counting at West Hollywood Park Auditorium on election night commented often on the quality and quantity of independent expenditure activity and suggested that it contributed meaningfully to the incumbents’ victories. One expert stated that the prominent role of independent expenditures is the natural consequence of campaign contribution limits imposed on the council candidates.