Attorney and 20-year Santa Monica resident Sue Himmelrich was appointed to fill the sole vacant seat on the Planning Commission at the City Council’s Jan. 22 meeting. She fills the seat left open by Ted Winterer, who was elected to the council last November and sworn in weeks later.
Himmelrich is a lawyer with the Western Law and Poverty Center. She advocated for affordable housing in Santa Monica. When a development agreement (DA) to replace Village Trailer Park with a multi-use project came to council members in November 2012, Himmelrich brought to the seven-member panel’s attention that there were not enough affordable housing units proposed in the DA.
Other community members receiving votes were Nina Fresco, John C. Smith, and Frank Gruber.
No candidates received the minimum four votes in the first round of voting. However, in the second round, all seven council members cast their respective votes for Himmelrich. Her term will end June 30, 2015.
